10 October 2015
Difference between Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil is that Sinn Féin will invest in public services and in fairness
● Sinn Féin TDs Mary Lou McDonald, Pearse Doherty and Gerry Adams at Saturday's policy conference
THE DIFFERENCE between Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil is that Sinn Féin will invest in public services and in fairness for the average family, Gerry Adams, Mary Lou McDonald and Pearse Doherty said at the start of Saturday's policy conference in Dublin attended by 300 activists from across Ireland.
Expressing to reporters his “deep shock” at news emerging of multiple deaths in a fire at Carrickmines, County Dublin, the Sinn Féin leader said.
“This Government is promising more of the same – more money for the wealthy but hardship for families and workers,” he said ahead of next Tuesday's Budget.
“This is a government that brought chaos and crisis to health and housing.
“This is a government that cannot even set an election date.
“This is a 'Coalition of Chaos'.”
Hardship, homelessness, inequality are the outworkings of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour policy, he said.
Saturday's policy conference was another step showing what Sinn Féin would do in government, Gerry Adams said.
Pointing to the launch during the week of Sinn Féin Alternative Budget 2016 – costed by the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure – Gerry Adams emphasised that Sinn Féin's proposals are thoughtful and about putting money into the pockets of average families “by getting rid of bad taxes like the Domestic Water Charges and the Family Home Tax”.
Mary Lou McDonald – noting that Fianna Fáil has significant costing omissions in its Budget proposals – reiterated that Sinn Féin is the only party with a costed plan to deliver better healthcare, better housing and better childcare.
Labour and Fine Gael in Government are focused on protecting the very wealthy and the most well-off, she said.
“We are saying to average families – you will be better off under Sinn Féin, not just in income but because Sinn Féin will invest properly and consistently in housing, health, education and childcare.”