Sinn Féin launches Dáil election campaign on Right2Change platform

SINN FÉIN formally launched its Dáil general election campaign in Dublin on Friday, fielding 50 candidates in 40 constituencies across the state on the Right2Change Principles platform.

There are 96 candidates subscribing to the Right2Change principles and Gerry Adams said this makes the possibility of a progressive government being elected achievable in the new 158-seat parliament. If there are not enough Right2Change candidates elected to make this possible, Sinn Féin would be open to discussing coalition with other parties if they supported the Right2Change Principles. The final decision would rest with the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis.

● The Sinn Féin candidates challenging Fine Gael/Labour and Fianna Fáil

Light-heartedly responding to questions about the launch being held in the Royal Irish Academy, Gerry Adams pointed out he had said at earlier events there that he had never been a member of the RIA.

The Sinn Féin leader said that this is the first opportunity since the foundation of the state to elect a Sinn Féin-led, progressive, republican government, “a government that will put the rights of citizens above the wants of the elites – a government that will work to unite the country, and deliver the promise of the 1916 Proclamation”.

Describing Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil as “the parties of broken promises”, he said:

“They have tried to buy the election with election promises. Their sums don’t add up. They have been caught cooking the books.

“Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil should withdraw their manifestos. They are based on a lie.”

He said that the economy and the Government are benefitting from global factors such as favourable interest rates, low oil prices and a weak euro compared to the dollar and sterling.

“Real economic growth has been driven by Irish SMEs and by Irish workers,” Gerry Adams said.

Fine Gael and Labour are trying to claim credit for an economic recovery for which they were not responsible.

“And the Taoiseach refuses to answer questions on this because, he claims, and I quote, “I am not going to get into economic jargon which the vast majority of people do not understand.

“So there you have it – according to the Taoiseach, the people are stupid.”

The Louth TD said that Sinn Féin will secure a sustainable recovery and make it fair and equitable.

“We will support jobs growth across the regions including rural Ireland, support young people into work, SMEs and FDI and invest in the economy.

“Sinn Féin will deliver a fair recovery by scrapping Water Charges, the Family Home Tax and by taking 277,000 low-paid workers out of the USC. We will build a universal health care system for all and invest properly in housing and childcare. Our proposals are prudent and responsible.

“We will use the current fiscal space to invest in health, housing and childcare. This will promote and sustain growth. Sinn Féin will secure a sustainable recovery and make it a fair one.”

Gerry Adams added:

“We will also work with the British Government and with our unionist partners in the North in a strategic and consistent way to implement the Good Friday and other Agreements, to consolidate the peace and to end divisions on this island.”