Its time to unite against a FG-FF political arrangement

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has welcomed the decision by the Labour Party decision to seek a longer period for dealing with the deficit. Sinn Fein has argued from the outset for a six year period for reducing the deficit.

Mr. Adams speaking at the opening of the party's new campaign office in West Street, Drogheda this morning said:

"There is a widespread desire for a realignment of Irish politics. The prospect of a minority Fine Gael government supported by Fianna Fáil, as proposed by Micheál Martin, makes sense for the conservative parties. It also makes sense for progressive politics. It is time for all those who believe that a government without Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael can deliver a better Ireland – to work together.

"Voters want a real alternative. They are looking for change, for a break with the failed politics of the past and for hope that this is possible. A hundred years ago James Connolly appealed for unity among the left in Ireland. It made sense then. It makes sense today."

The Full Text of Gerry's remarks:

There is a growing demand for genuine change. Citizens know this is will not come from a Fine Gael led government.

They also know that the incoming government will frame the economic, social and political life of the state for the next 10, 20 or 30 years.

Voters are also calling on politicians to stop bickering and petty point scoring and present positive, concrete proposals for change.

Sinn Féin is seeking a mandate for:

· Root and branch political reform aimed at producing a genuinely open and accountable form of Government which ends the notion of political elites and empowers Irish citizens;

· The protection and creation of jobs;

· An end to the two-tier health and education systems;

· The proper use of Ireland's natural resources for the common good;

· Continued support for the Peace Process, and the Good Friday Agreement.

Sinn Féin has a plan to protect and invest in jobs and for a fair and sustainable tax system. Sinn Féin will renew our public services. And we believe that taxpayers' money must not be used to pay for private banking debt. Irish citizens cannot afford €80 billion of debt for the banks.

We want the reversal of the social welfare cuts and tax increases imposed on low and middle-income families.
We want a realistic deficit reduction plan that does not punish these same low and middle-income households. We want and end to EU/IMF austerity and interference.
Over the coming weeks we will be outlining in greater detail how Sinn Féin in government would set about undoing the damage done to our society and economy by 13 years of bad government.

A Fine Gael government will not deliver real change. They want to continue bailing out the banks, cutting social welfare and public services. They want to slash 30,000 public sector jobs and sell of profitable semi-state companies. They want to allow the EU & IMF to dictate government policy.
Real change can only be delivered by a new kind of government. Sinn Féin has long argued for realignment in politics. This process of realignment is something that has already begun in the North.

Imagine the type of change a government without Fianna Fail and Fine Gael could achieve.
That is now, for the first time, a real possibility. For too long we have changes of governments and a change in the faces in cabinet but no change in the policies they have implemented.There is a widespread desire for a realignment of Irish politics. The prospect of a minority Fine Gael government supported by Fianna Fáil, as proposed by Micheál Martin, makes sense for the conservative parties.

It also makes sense for progressive politics. It is time for all those who believe that a government without Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael can deliver a better Ireland – to work together.

Voters want a real alternative. They are looking for change, for a break with the failed politics of the past and for hope that this is possible.

A hundred years ago James Connolly appealed for unity among the left in Ireland. It made sense then. It makes sense today.