Commemorations can stimulate debate, which will ultimately lead to a greater understanding of the events of our ‘through-other’ history and to shape a better future. – Martin McGuinness
Austerity is devastating these communities. The working poor, public sector workers, the disabled, and the vulnerable are the hardest hit by this bankrupt and ideologically driven policy. – Martin McGuinness
The position is clear – there is no ambiguity in Sinn Fein’s position. We, along with all the other parties, have signed up to a reduced rate of corporation tax of 12.5 % by 2018. – Martin McGuinness
The most important thing to say is that Sinn Fein isn’t going back to anything. We are a party on the move. – Martin McGuinness
Sinn Fein is committed to promoting and enhancing reconciliation, and in recent years, I and other members of my party have taken a number of significant initiatives aimed to advance this process. – Martin McGuinness
That’s healthy and good for us that there are people who are prepared to question what we are doing. – Martin McGuinness
I lost a lot of friends at the hands of the British Army. The person who actually introduced me to my wife, Colm Keenan, was murdered by the British Army. He was a member of the IRA, but he was unarmed. – Martin McGuinness
I remember vividly as a 15-year-old, in 1964, seeing Derry play Glentoran in the Irish Cup Final at Windsor Park in Belfast. Glentoran were one of the two big Belfast teams, along with Linfield. Any rural team playing them was up against the odds. – Martin McGuinness
I carry out my full duties as Deputy First Minister and accept I have tinnitus but appreciate the hearing that I do have and that it does not limit me in a professional or personal capacity. – Martin McGuinness
Obviously everybody is accountable for their own actions, and everybody has to make judgments based on their own conscience as to whether or not they believe what they were doing is right or wrong. – Martin McGuinness
In fact, I would defend to the death their right to express a different point of view. – Martin McGuinness
Remembering the loss of those Irishmen from all parts of the island who were sent to their deaths in the imperialist slaughter of the First World War is crucial to understanding our history. It is also important to recognise the special significance in which the Battle of the Somme and the First World War is held. – Martin McGuinness
If Britain votes to leave the European Union, then that could have huge implications for the entire island of Ireland and, given all the predictions, would run counter to the democratic wishes of the Irish people. – Martin McGuinness
We don’t believe that winning elections and winning any amount of votes will win freedom in Ireland. At the end of the day, it will be the cutting edge of the IRA which will bring freedom. – Martin McGuinness
It is amazing that you now have a bus company in Ballymena producing world class buses for Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Las Vegas. – Martin McGuinness
I don’t know what caused my tinnitus, but I started to become aware of a very low ringing noise in my right ear, which is now constantly there. – Martin McGuinness
But the fact is that the vast majority of Republicans support the Sinn Fein leadership. – Martin McGuinness
The task ahead of us will be extremely challenging as the Tory party continue with their austerity agenda and as we continue to resolve the issues of the past and build unity, reconciliation, and equality. – Martin McGuinness
Sinn Fein is the only political party on this island working to end that fracture in their nation and to achieving the Republic set out in the proclamation. – Martin McGuinness
Along with that ongoing process Sinn Fein took a decision to establish a peace commission which had the responsibility to travel around the country to receive submissions from the general public, also our opponents. – Martin McGuinness
I’m not going to be reduced to the position of being the implementer of Tory cuts in the North. – Martin McGuinness
Let me put it like this: I am not prepared to officiate over on behalf of the British government what I think is a disastrous strategy which will impact on some of the most vulnerable and poorest people within our society. – Martin McGuinness
I would have felt ashamed if I had not been part of the resistance and part of fighting back against the forces of the state. – Martin McGuinness
I do have a very deep sense of regret that there was a conflict and that people lost their lives, and you know, many were responsible for that – and a lot of them wear pinstripe suits in London today. – Martin McGuinness
I am very proud I was part of the IRA in Derry and involved in repelling the designs of the British state forces against people who were being treated as second- and third-class citizens. – Martin McGuinness
