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What does it mean to be a republican in 2016? We asked this Sinn Féin senator

Fintan Warfield thinks ‘you don’t have to be a Shinner to be a republican’.

FINTAN WARFIELD IS one of newest members of Sinn Féin’s Oireachtas team.

The 24-year-old became the first person elected to the incoming Seanad during the week.

Warfield, who has toured with the Young Wolfe Tones, thinks some people might be reticent to say they are republican due to fears of being criticised.

However, he said the Easter Rising centenary commemorations have led to people being more in touch with national pride.

In a High Table Interview with TheJournal.ie, Warfield explained to us what he thinks it means to be a republican in modern-day Ireland.

He told us: “You don’t necessarily have to be a Shinner to be a republican.”

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Video: Nicky Ryan

Warfield said the 1916 anniversary has also resulted in people being more willing to discuss a united Ireland – something he said would benefit people north and south.

Seanad reform

During the interview, Warfield also spoke about the type of reform he wants to see in the Seanad.

“It’s not lost on me that I argued for and campaigned for Seanad abolition. At that stage we had no confidence in the government to reform it, that’s been apparent,” he said.

Sinn Féin has called for 50/50 gender balance in the upper house, as well as opening up voting to all Irish citizens – including those in the north and the diaspora.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Video: Nicky Ryan

A lot of people have said to me, ‘Why would you find yourself in the Seanad? There’s no power there.’ For myself it’s not necessarily about the power but about using a public space, a political space that we occupy, to make social change, to make political change.

One of the first things he plans to focus on is bringing forward legislation to amend the Gender Recognition Act so trans people of all ages can apply to have their preferred gender officially recognised.

Read: ‘Young trans people don’t turn trans when they’re 18, they deserve so much better’

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    Mute Kevin Ryan
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:23 PM

    And Kate chose Paul when, after a short nap, he clicked his fingers and she felt a powerful new attraction to him.

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:26 PM

    Any pictures of this Kate? . Lets have a gawk at her.

    48
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    Mute Cormac
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 5:32 PM

    We need Alan Partridge to follow his lead

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    Mute Eoin Fleming
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:35 PM

    “look into my eyes, not around the eyes into eyes, romance isn’t dead”

    42
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    Mute jerome murphy
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:32 PM

    This is a stupid article? Why give this clown the publicity

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    Mute JJ O Riordan
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:18 PM

    And they say romance is dead.

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    Mute Diarmuid Lucey
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:31 PM

    Tinder must be outdated now……..here comes the craze of Excel spreadsheet dating.

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    Mute JJ O Riordan
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:35 PM

    Or bring all the candidates into a room while you give a PowerPoint presentation on all of their strengths and weaknesses.

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    Mute Anto Curran
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:23 PM

    Whatever formula works for him!

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    Mute Christmas Carol
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 4:18 PM

    Wait. So is he saying that Kate ….isn’t pretty? What a charmer.

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    Mute Chauncey Gardiner
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 4:16 PM

    Really wish I hadn’t read that!

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    Mute Niamhs
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:33 PM

    LTD Paul, LTD….

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    Mute Eamon Coakley
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 4:48 PM

    And so Kate, what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul McKenna?………

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 6:27 PM

    Maybe she chose him for his balance sheet so all in all I’m sure they will be well matched.

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    Mute Lurfic
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:25 PM

    Am I the only one who’s never heard of this person?

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    Mute Pat Comer
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 3:28 PM

    You’ll remember everything when he clicks his fingers.

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    Mute Cosmo Kramer
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 4:02 PM
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    Mute RJ.Fallon
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 6:31 PM

    Yes he would Paul,professional Associations do not allow registered practitioners to take part in public entertainment.

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    Mute RJ.Fallon
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 4:21 PM

    At least he is not claiming to be a professional therapist, he would lose his license straight away for doing public entertainment performances.

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    Mute Paul Horgan
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    Jan 3rd 2016, 5:54 PM

    No he wouldn’t

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