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28 January 2016

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Dáil election a choice between failed politics of Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil or radical change with Sinn Féin – Gerry Adams

GERRY ADAMS says this Dáil election boils down to a choice between “the failed politics” of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil “or a genuine republican alternative that offers the prospect of radical political change” with a government led by Sinn Féin.

The poll-topping TD for Louth appealed for more people to vote for change and vote Sinn Féin.

February 2016

In the February issue of An Phoblacht (published on Friday), he attacks the record of Fine Gael and says that rather than Labour putting a “brake” on its “right-wing impulse”, Labour ministers have been “the most enthusiastic proponents of vicious cuts to the welfare of ordinary families”.

Gerry Adams says:

“As a senior Cabinet member, Joan Burton oversaw the implementation of water charges, the Property Tax, cuts to child benefit, removal of medical cards, cuts to health and welfare, and a succession of stealth taxes.”

And Fianna Fáil cannot provide a credible opposition to a Fine Gael/Labour Government which is merely implementing a policy plan laid out for it by Fianna Fáil, the Sinn Féin leader says.

“Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin sat around the Cabinet table for 14 years, developing the very policies now being implemented by Fine Gael and Labour.

“Domestic water charges were Fianna Fáil’s brainchild.”

Lambasting the Fine Gael/Labour coalition and saying that Enda Kenny's government has presided over “an unprecedented housing and homeless crisis, chaos in our hospitals, increased taxes on struggling families and workers, regressive Budgets, the dismantling of vital public services and the abandonment of rural communities”, the Sinn Féin leader says:

“Fine Gael is clearly advocating a return to reckless 'boom and bust' policies which previously caused the collapse of the economy.

The result will be further destruction of public services and increased hardship for ordinary working people.

“The so-called ‘recovery’ they wish to sustain is a recovery only for those who have already benefited – high-earners, bankers and property developers.”

He accuses the Government of continuing to protect the Golden Circle.

“Just like Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party have continued political appointments to state boards and refused to act on high salaries for politicians, in banking and on state bodies.

Meanwhile, they have ignored the demands of hundreds of thousands of citizens who have taken to the streets again and again to demand the scrapping of domestic water charges.

“A progressive government led by Sinn Féin will end water charges and the family home tax.

“It would make the economy serve society, not the other way around,” Gerry Adams says.

“It would prioritise investment in jobs and public services and implement a fairer tax system to sustain a more equal society.”

Among Sinn Féin's priorities is the delivery of universal healthcare – this means free GP care, free prescriptions, ending two-tier access to hospitals and dealing with the trolley crisis.

“We would build 100,000 social and affordable homes and tackle the scandal of banks charging extortionate interest rates on variable mortgages.

“Sinn Féin would seek to end corruption in politics and cut politicians' salaries.

“We would reduce and eventually abolish third-level fees, invest in decent childcare, disability and mental health services.

“Ultimately, this election is a choice: a choice between the failed politics of conservative parties who have ruled the state since partition or a genuine republican alternative that offers the prospect of radical political change.”

The Sinn Féin leader said that, in this centenary year of the 1916 Rising, it is important to remember that the ideals of equality and social justice at the heart of the Proclamation are required more than ever.

“Ireland today needs once again the spirit and vision, the selflessness and generosity of those who struck for freedom and justice 100 years ago.

“The core values of the 1916 Proclamation remain the mission statement of Irish republicanism today.

“Unlike Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil or the Labour Party, Sinn Féin has a vision grounded in these values.

“We have a plan for a fair recovery that will benefit all our people equally.”

Sinn Féin is the only party that can lead a government to transform the political, social and economic life of citizens, Gerry Adams says.

“We are advancing credible policies to build a better, fairer Ireland

Another Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael-led government merely offers more of the same.

“So in this election – vote republican. Vote for change. Vote for fairness and equality. Vote for unity. Vote Sinn Féin.”

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