BY JOHN SQUIRE


 
The Ireland Institute played host to a packed audience on Thursday 28 February for the launch of Daithi Doolan's campaign to win a seat in Leinster House for Sinn Féin in Dublin South East. The meeting was chaired by Frances McCole, the party's candidate in Dublin North Central and the guest speaker was Francie Molloy, Sinn Fein Assembly member for Dungannon.

McCole observed that Daithi Doolan must be doing something right to have had the Attorney General "turning hysterical in recent days". When Doolan himself rose to speak he told the gathering that Sinn Féin was only weeks away from long overdue success in the 26 Counties and that this would spell an end to "cosy cartelism".

Relaying the announcement of the closure of the Ardagh glass factory in Ringsend, with the loss of up to 400 jobs, he outlined the real issues at hand, such as a two-tier health system, the lack of public, affordable housing, drug addiction and the peace process.

Doolan observed that recent attacks by careerist politicians and right-wing media organs were "entirely predictable" and this echoed Frances McCole's comment that such attacks were an attempt to dehumanise republicans in the eyes of the electorate.

Establishment parties have failed Meath

Sinn Féin Councillor Joe Reilly was joined by party President Gerry Adams MP on Monday evening for the launch of his election campaign in Navan, County Meath. Reilly said that the legacy of the present government has been one of missed opportunities. "The ordinary people of this state created enormous wealth but the reality is that it has not benefited all equally. This is true nationally and locally here in Meath." He highlighted several key areas of neglect.

Housing: "Since FF/PDs came into power the housing list has risen every year. There are over 1,900 on Meath County Council's housing waiting list, 850 in Navan alone. The result is that many young couples are priced out of the housing market."

Health: "Our Lady's Hospital in Navan is unable to meet the needs of the day, never mind our future needs and morale is at an all time low. Every day I am approached by individuals and families who are experiencing difficulties in the health system whether it is in terms of queuing for operations or seeking a medical card."

Education: "There are parents in Navan and all over the county who have to send their children to schools some distance from their homes because their schools locally are booked out for years to come."

Transport: "Our roads and towns are gridlocked. Despite the obvious need there is still no political will to provide a Dublin to Navan train line. I have proposed at council that the Kingscourt to Drogheda line be open for passengers to help the development of tourism in the Boyne Valley and North Meath."

Incineration: "Noel Dempsey will be remembered as the minister who removed powers from local councillors in order to have his waste management plans pushed through. He has allowed big business to take charge of our environment. I voted against the Waste Management Plan in July of last year because it proposed incineration and a large landfill and ignores the need for re-cycling.

"Sinn Féin will continue to expand and grow in Meath because we are the only party capable of providing an alternative vision. As the only credible alternative candidate in this constituency, I believe that Sinn Féin is on the verge of a breakthrough in Meath."