MARY LOU McDONALD says she’s “absolutely” up for the challenge of debating Mary Hanafin and the other three deputy leaders the Fianna Fáil Number 2 named this morning – Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens.

Mary Lou said:

I fully endorse the call for a deputy leaders’ debate and look forward to the opportunity of putting Sinn Féin’s strong alternative message before the people.

The... Free article

SINN FÉIN TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has today called for the scrapping of the Universal Social Charge and its replacement with a higher tax band for people earning in excess of €100,000.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh said:

The Universal Social Charge is basically a flat tax: everyone with an income above €16,000 pays it at the same rate of 7%. As such it breaches the fundamental principle of... Free article

THE Labour Party are "all over the place" on tax and changing policy every day in their haste to get into power with Fine Gael, Sinn Féin Councillor Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North-East) has said after the Labour Party said it would increase the VAT rate by 1%.

Describing VAT as "a stealth tax", Councillor Mac Lochlainn said another increase will hit the least-well-off... Free article

SINN FÉIN has launched a €7billion, 10-point plan for job creation.

Dublin Central candidate and Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said on Thursday that the priority for any incoming Government has to be job creation and retention:

The country is in crisis. Unemployment has reached record highs with 100,000 people set to emigrate over the next two years. These people... Free article

Does Fianna Fáil support a united Ireland?

Éamon Ó Cuív on Newstalk's 'Coleman at Large', Wednesday 2 February 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E576qlxjKTA

http://unitingireland.ie

Drivetime on RTÉ Radio 1 with Mary Wilson features the day's top news, current affairs and sports stories. Mary, with an award-winning team of producers, explores the issues of the day from 4.30pm to 7pm asking tough questions and seeking answers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUAUkEV-df4&feature=player_embedded#

FINE GAEL has been accused by Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin of attempting to con the electorate by claiming that they will not increase taxation but failing to spell out how they will pay back the enormous debt they are intent on taking on from the EU/IMF bail-out.

Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

The proposals produced by Fine Gael are lacking in credibility as they ... Free article

THREE POLLS into the election campaign and what have we discovered? Sinn Féin are holding the gains made in 2010 and that many journalists offer interesting interpretations of the poll figures that don’t stand up to scrutiny.

It was welcome to see the Sunday Independent to park their in-house Quantum Research polling, which isn’t methodologically on a par with the Red C, Ipsos... Free article

SPEAKING on the first full day of campaigning in the general election as Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour all officially launched their campaigns, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said there is an alternative to the conservative economics of the Establishment parties:

For the first time in the history of this state there is the prospect of a Government not involving Fianna... Free article

IRISH ACTIVISTS taking part in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on March 30^th have bought a vessel that can carry 25 passengers. Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Sinn Féin Derry City Councilor Gerry Mac Lochlainn will be on board the aid flotilla with other political figures and personalities.

A thousand people from across the world are expected be be taking part in the... Free article