Stepping Up

The political establishment have a real talent for getting things wrong. Take the issue of sovereignty. In successive debates on EU treaties the ‘enlightened’ politicians comprehensively dismissed the value of managing our own affairs as a backward notion. They have their answer now. The EU and IMF are in town to pick over the carcass of Ireland’s ‘Celtic Tiger’. The political establishment are directly responsible for our economic convulsion, they have comprehensively failed to defend the interests of citizens.  A toxic blend of cronyism, cosy consensus and brazen self interest have been the hallmarks of politics in this state. The economy is broken, politics is broken and without radical action and change there is a danger that people’s spirit will be broken too. This is the political backdrop to Gerry Adams’s decision to stand for election in the Louth constituency.

Sinn Féin has argued for a radically different approach to the economic crisis than the other political parties. We don’t accept that the taxpayers should carry the can for bondholders who took a punt on Anglo Irish Bank. Their gamble failed and they must face the consequences of that failure. We don’t accept that sucking billions out of an already depressed economy is the way to recovery. Rushing to meet the arbitrary EU budgetary deadline of 2014 is foolish and dangerous. We don’t accept the policy of sitting on our hands in the hope of an international upturn to bring jobs. Investment and stimulus is an urgent priority and can be achieved with funds from the National Pension Reserve Fund. We will not accept cutbacks for those on low and middle incomes while the wealthy are taxed very lightly.  The party has produced a detailed, costed alternative to the smash and grab cutback agenda of the other parties. We have called on people to demand and work for a new economic and political direction.

In this time of crisis Gerry Adams could not credibly call on others to step forward, if he was not prepared to do so himself. He has been around politics- north and south - for a long time. He leads a national party with elected representatives in thirty one of the thirty two counties of Ireland.  His record in the complex, high stakes peace process reflects his calibre as a leader.  Without doubt he has a valuable contribution to make if the people of Louth elect him to the Dáil. It is no surprise that the political old guard and those who crave power at any cost have voiced their objection to Gerry running for election in Louth.

It will take courage and creativity to meet the challenges of changing Ireland. In re-building our economy, providing for our people and repairing our international reputation the ‘business as usual’ politics won’t cut it.  Sinn Féin represents a straight up challenge to the stultified politics in this state. We have a plan and a vision for our country. Gerry Adams is up for the challenge and at the next election he will lead a team of candidates who are up for it too.

Sinn Féin meet EU Commissioner and rule out Cosy Budget Consensus

Sinn Féin Vice President Mary Lou McDonald and her Dáil colleagues met with EU Commissioner Olli Rehn this morning to rule out signing up to the government, Fine Gael and Labour’s cosy budgetary consensus of cuts that target the low paid, unemployed and front line services such as education and health.

Speaking after the meeting Ms McDonald said: “The message Sinn Féin delivered to Olli Rehn this morning was very simple. Insisting that Ireland reduce its deficit from 32% to 3% in just four years is bonkers. Fine Gael and Labour’s support of the government’s 2014 deadline just goes to prove the extent of the political establishment’s cosy relationship. The only consensus that Sinn Féin is interested in is a consensus for recovery. Protecting the banks and high earners by targeting the low-paid, unemployed and front line services is not a plan Sinn Féin can or will sign up to.

“Sinn Féin is the only political party to publish in full its Budget proposals in advance of meeting Oli Rehn and also the only party to set out an honest and realistic timeline to reduce the budget deficit by 2016. Recovery and growth will collapse under the weight of the 2014 deadline. If Sinn Féin’s radical budgetary plans are not implemented then Ireland is on a road to nowhere. We will implement a Wealth Tax, we will cap public pay at €100,000 and we will use the National Pension Reserve Fund monies to invest in jobs instead of bailing out the banks. Fianna Fáil’s austerity model has failed absolutely. Fine Gael and Labour want to deliver more of the same.” ENDS

Mercedes Ministers response to crisis - let them eat cheese

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith’s announcement that lots of cheese will be made available to poor people this Christmas is a gesture even Marie-Antoinette would have blushed at on saying out loud.

Just last week our Mercedes Minister’s lined up in their top of the range chauffeur driven cars to discuss how much to tax the lowest paid and cut from social welfare payments. And just when you think the political elite of the country couldn’t possibly be any more disconnected Brendan Smith steps out of his ivory tower to feed cheese to the poor. You just couldn’t make up this kind of political gesture. Fianna Fáil and Green party Mercedes Ministers response to Ireland’s economic crisis – let them eat cheese!

Bizarrely this scheme is being funded by the European Commission. Maybe this is some sort of peace offering by Olli Rehn in advance of his trip to Dublin on Sunday during which he will copper fasten Fianna Fáil and the Green’s regressive budgetary plans to reduce the deficit to 3% by 2014. Perhaps the Agriculture Minister could extend his plans to asking the ESB will they accept cheese as payment on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of families who now unemployed, impoverished and indebted thanks to his government’s policies?

PRESS STATEMENT - High Court ruling signals time on government

Speaking from Dublin following Senator Pearse Doherty’s High Court victory against the government’s refusal to hold the Donegal South West by-election Sinn Fein Vice President Mary Lou McDonald said, “the writing is on the wall for Fianna Fáil and the Green’s. This government needs to step up by stepping down.”

“Now is the time to put equality, honesty, and radicalism back into Irish politics. The current economic crisis demands radically different solutions. Taxing the wealthy is a radical solution. Capping top public servants' wages is a radical solution. Cutting unemployment payments and taxing those on the lowest incomes is not radical – it’s despicable.

“Following Senator Doherty’s High Court victory this morning Sinn Féin’s TD’s immediately tabled a Dáil motion for the writ for the Donegal South-West by-election to be moved. But the ramifications of the High Court judgment go beyond forcing the government to hold a by-election seventeen months in the waiting. It is yet another damning indictment against this government’s administration of cronyism and self-interest. Fianna Fáil and the Green’s are currently white knuckle rafting with one simple objective, to keep their respective party kayaks afloat.

“No-one has confidence in this government, and the reality is with 4 outstanding by-elections and tumbling popularity polls Fianna Fáil and the Green’s have no legitimate mandate. The EU Commission is sending in Oli Rehn to Dublin on Sunday to oversee the states fiscal policy, the yield on Irish 10-year bonds is now up to a staggering 7.4%, the President of the High Court has today described the government’s refusal to hold the Donegal by-election as ‘unprecedented’ and everywhere you look ordinary people are organising against the government’s inequitable budgetary plans. The appetite for a change is rife and the time for that change in now.” ENDS