In addition to party delegates, two representatives of the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North American (including the North American Coordinator) and nine representatives of the IRSP Britain were present. Also present were three observers from Italian Left, one from the German Left, one from the Austrian Left, and one from the British Left.

The year 1998 will be remembered in Irish history as the year the "Good Friday Agreement" emerged as an answer to the age-old conflict between Ireland and Britain.

The "Good Friday Agreement" is the latest in a long line of stalled "solutions" that fail to address the core issues of the conflict. The IRSP reject the "Agreement", we believe that far from offering the people of Ireland Justice, Equality, and Peace, it is in fact a betrayal. Not a betrayal of Nationalism or Unionism, though some would argue hat it betrays both, but a betrayal of the genuine hope of the people for a peaceful future.

We opposed the GFA in the joint referenda because it institutionalises sectarianism, fails to properly address the imperialist role that Britain has played in Ireland and locks the Irish people into a capitalist alliance that will benefit only the rich to the detriment of the Irish working class.

The IRSP has always taken the view that the conflict in Ireland was more than a struggle against British occupation. It is our view and remains our view that the removal of the British presence is a prerequisite to tackling sectarianism and addressing the capitalist system that continues to inflict poverty on the vast majority of the population in what is one of the richest economies in Europe.

The "Good Friday Agreement" has elevated sectarianism into an acceptable political philosophy, the continued sectarian murder and intimidation campaign by Loyalists bears witness to this elevation, for Unionist the GFA is as much a weapon to oppose the Nationalist working class as the rifle or grenade.

We also take this opportunity to condemn without reservation a number of sectarian attacks carried out by so called Nationalists on Protestant homes in the Blacks Road area of West Belfast. To inflict blind sectarian and attempted forced evictions on people is to perpetuate the myth that sectarianism is the sole cause of our problems.

Having stated our political opposition to the "Agreement" and committing ourselves to a Republican Socialist agenda, we also have to acknowledge that the "Good Friday Agreement" is a reality, it has changed the political climate in Ireland. Time will tell whether the changed political climate will benefit the Irish working class, it is our view that it will not. Having acknowledged the changed political climate it was imperative that the IRSP began the programme of work, internal and external, alongside the debate and consultation relevant to the political climate in which we have to work.

The outgoing Ard Comhairle have provided the leadership and direction necessary to steer the party through the changed political climate in 1998, this has been achieved without compromising our Republican Socialist and working class politics.

We remain unreconstructed Irish Republican Socialists. Our objective is the removal of British presence, both political and economic, from Ireland and the establishment of a 32-County Independent Irish Socialist Republic.

We take this opportunity to thank the members of the Ard Comhairle who resigned for personal reasons during the past year. We acknowledge the personal sacrifice these comrades have made over the years in pursuit of republican socialist politics. But for their contribution and sacrifices, the IRSP would not be in the healthy position that it is now. We wish them well in future endeavours in the knowledge of their continued support for the republican socialist movement.

Comrades, our objective is clear. We have learned from Connolly, Mellows, Costello, and Power. They have shown the way forward. However, having learned from the past, we now look to the future. As we enter the new Millennium it is imperative that republican socialist politics remain relevant, that is the task for all of us. Let the 1998 Ard Fheis signal the beginning of that work.