West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

De Brun launches Traveller's registration leaflet

Published: 3 April, 2009

The launch of a leaflet encouraging members of the travelling community to register to vote was held in An Munia Tober, on the Springfield Road, on Friday 3 April.

The launch was performed by Sinn Fein MEP and West Belfast resident Bairbre de Brun and in attendance were many members of the travelling community.

Speaking at the launch, Ms de Brun said:

''200,000 citizens who are entitled to vote in the North of Ireland are not on the electoral register.

''Certain groups of citizens, including the travelling community, form a disproportionate section of the 200,000 missing people.

''That is why this leaflet is so important, particularly at this time, because it gives details on how to register and how to get photo ID, and all of those in An Munia Tober who have been involved in planning this are to be commended for making a great effort.

''The right to vote is a basic and fundamental human right.

''The vote was secured for everyone in the North of Ireland in the late 1960s, when the Civil Rights Movement was marching for equality for all.

''They took their inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, from people like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King.

''Indeed, today we can see, with the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, that when the poor and the socially deprived, and members of minority and ethnic groups, decide that they want change, then they can make change.

''And how did they do it?

''Through registering to vote and using their vote on Election Day and making history.

''The votes of each and every person here today can help change society.

''The votes of each and every person here today can help create a New Ireland.

''Voting is that important.

''Europe can be, and has been, somewhere where we can pursue our rights and where we can lobby for pressure to be put on others to recognise our rights and entitlements to full equality.

''Don't be thinking to yourself - 'Europe has nothing to do with me'.

''It has a lot to do with you and, more importantly, it is what you make it.

''So get on the register.

''Get your photographic ID.

''Remember - Your vote is your voice.

''Use it on 4th June and play your part, no matter how small, in making change.''