Video – Large crowds for 99th anniversary of Easter Rising in Dublin

FINE GAEL and Labour are embarrassed and uncomfortable at the prospect of celebrating the centenary of the Easter Rising because the ideals for which the men and women of 1916 fought and died for expose uncomfortable truths for our current government, Mary Lou McDonald TD has said.

Speaking to a large crowd outside the GPO on Dublin's O'Connell Street, the Sinn Féin Deputy Leader hit out at what she described as a "two-tier recovery" which puts working families on the breadline and forces others to emigrate.

She chastised Labour for its failure to protect workers, noting most recently the situation of employees in Dunnes Stores.

"I want to tell you that Sinn Féin has chosen our side. We are on the side of the Rebellion and the ideals of the Proclamation," she said.

The Dublin Central TD said austerity has failed and that it is anti-republican, anti-people and anti-equality:

"We are on the side of those fighting austerity, whether it's in the North, in the South, in Greece or across the European Union."

Honing in on the Labour Party's failure in Government and their willingness to prop-up Fine Gael and its right-wing policies, she said:

"Today, standing here at the GPO, I pledge again that we will not make false promises to grab political power. When we say that we will abolish water charges at the first opportunity we mean it. When we say we will abolish property tax we mean it too."

She said Sinn Féin in Government would not protect the privileged few at the expense of the many, nor will they allow banks to bully families or set extortionate interest rates:

"Above all I pledge that we will not shy away from any decisions necessary to put Ireland and our people first. We will stand up for Ireland and its people.

"Our generation can, and our generation will, make good on the promises made here in 1916."