Sinn Féins priorities for the next Dail

Sinn Féin has set out a better, fairer way to reduce the deficit and deal with the banks. Our alternative seeks to stimulate the economy, protect and create jobs and reform the tax system.  We would target cuts at the top of society — beginning with the salaries of Government Ministers, TDs and top civil servants.
In the upcoming general election we will be presenting a real programme of recovery which will:
1.    Regenerate the economy by investing in a major job creation programme to get Ireland back to work.
2.    Reverse the savage cuts and prioritise frontline services.
3.    Burn the bondholders in Anglo and wind it up.
4.    Reduce the deficit by taxing the wealthiest and eliminating wasteful spending. 
5.    Provide for a root and branch reform of the political system; including abolishing the Seanad in its current form, reforming the electoral system, and bringing forward a constitution aimed at producing a genuine republican form of Government which puts an end to political elites and empowers Irish citizens.
6.    Ensure the proper use of Ireland’s natural resources for the common good.
7.    End the two-tier health and education systems.
8.    And guarantee continued support for the Peace Process, the Good Friday Agreement and seek to enhance outreach to the unionist community.
People are looking for a new kind of politics. That is what Sinn Féin offers.
Make a stand - There is a better way
Vote for Sinn Féin.

A plan to get Ireland back to work

Cllr Anthony Kelly took a break from the hectic canvass trail to launch the Sinn Féin election manifesto in Gorey this morning. Speaking to supporters and well wishers, he said "This is a plan to get Ireland back to work."

"With over 20,000 people lining the dole queues of County Wexford, the protection and creation of jobs is our priority. In this town we recently witnessed the shocking spectacle of queues stretching all the way back on to the Main Street. On the same day I heard of 7 young people – all from just one street, who are being forced to emigrate to the far end of the world. All the parties of the political establishment have failed our people."

The County Wexford Sinn Féin candidate insisted that it wasn't enough for opposition politicians to simply condemn the failed economic policies of Fianna Fail, and stressed that real alternatives had to be offered to the Irish people. He told local media that Sinn Féin's election manifesto represented that real alternative, as it prioritised job creation, proposed reform of our political system as well as our health and education systems, and above all, put the needs of the Irish people before banks or bondholders in Germany.

"The people need change. We are that change. Forget about the squabbling self serving politicians of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour, and lets concentrate on bringing this country back from the brink. Lets concentrate on creating jobs and ending political corruption. Lets concentrate on ending the unjust two tiered health and education systems and lets build a new republic where our children can prosper. We can do this now. Just vote Sinn Féin on the 25th. Make the big change and I promise you, you'll never look back."

General Election must usher in major Changes in Irish Politics

County Wexfords Sinn Féin candidate Anthony Kelly has welcomed the setting of the general election date. He said he would have preferred to see an immediate election, but at least now the days of the chronically incompetent Fianna Fail/Green government were numbered.
"The people of Ireland have been calling for this election for many months now," Cllr Kelly said. "Their calls have landed on deaf ears until now. On the eleventh of March, I want Fianna Fail and the other gombeen parties calls to fall on deaf ears. Don't allow them to trick you into voting for more failed policies. Only one party offers a truly alternative vision of Ireland, by pushing progressive economic policies, sound political reform and calling for a full reversal to the recent cuts to social welfare and the minimum wage. That party is Sinn Féin."
"We welcome the setting of the General Election date. The election could and should still be held earlier - on 11 February if the Dáil were to be dissolved today, the 92nd anniversary of the inaugural meeting of An Chéad Dáil Éireann. That said, there will be widespread relief and satisfaction that the end of this Fianna Fáil/Green Government is now finally in sight."

Kelly says, “Let them vote”

Sinn Féin's General Election candidate in County Wexford, Cllr Anthony Kelly, has called for an introduction of new legislation so that Irish emigrants may retain their voting rights.  On current Irish law, a citizen may not vote in a general election unless resident in Ireland on September the first of the previous year.

“Is it not bad enough that our people are being driven out of their country due to the mistakes of a blundering government, that they must bear the added burden of not being recognised when an opportunity for electorate change does come about?” Cllr Kelly asked.  “It is an utter insult to those unfortunate enough to have to leave that the law fails to give them the opportunity to cast their vote from whatever far flung land they end up in.”

A 2006 study undertaken by Global Irish, a website dedicated to Diaspora issues, concluded that 115 countries, including all of Ireland’s EU partners, allow their overseas citizens to vote in state elections.  Cllr Kelly is campaigning for the introduction of a postal vote for Irish citizens abroad.

Kelly calls for action on Hospital Crisis

Wexford Sinn Féin general election candidate, cllr Anthony Kelly, has urged the government to reverse cuts to the health service immediately after it was revealed that hospital A&E units are already being over ran.

“We have a record-breaking number of 569 patients on trolleys and chairs in our public hospital A&E departments but this situation is set to worsen as a result of the cuts imposed in the Budget," Cllr Kelly said, "We have had over 1500 acute hospital beds closed due to cuts even before Budget 2011."

“The Fianna Fáil/Green Government has taken €765 million out of the public health budget for 2011 and its four-year plan would take a total of €1.4 billion by 2014."

Cllr Kelly said that this would leave the Irish health service wiped out. He restated that if Sinn Féin enters government, these cuts will be stopped.

True Public Representative

Look at this picture and tell me what you see.

I see a member of Wexford Borough Council, whom also holds down another job to make ends meet, giving up his spare time to clear off snow in Wexford town yesterday, so that his elderly neighbours could feel safe to walk outside.
I see a man who has been given the honour of running as Sinn Féin candidate in the next general election, remain grounded and rather than let this honour go to his head (as it has to others like him in the past), would prefer to still operate on the most basic level of public representation - making sure the people around him were safe and secure.
Personally, this blog salutes Cllr Anthony Kelly for that.
After all, is that not what we want from our elected representatives, whether it be at local or national level?
Arnt we tired of sending people to Leinster House and not hearing from them again until the next election campaign?
Oh you'll hear them profiling themselves on south east radio, or see their well groomed exteriors in the local rags, but when was the last time they called down to your estate to see if you and your neighbours were happy?
When was the last time they asked you how you felt about life in Wexford, and what improvements could be made, outside of an election campaign?
Wexford has had its share of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour representation in the Dail.
Whats it left us with?
Nothing.
We are the forgotten county.
This blog wants change and will do everything it can to help Anthony Kelly make it to Leinster House, because that is the only hope of any progressive change in this county.
If you want to see dynamic change in Wexford, do the same.

Come on Wexford - Lets Make the Big Change!

(Thanks to Rathangan Republican News for this piece)

Kelly is general election candidate for Wexford Sinn Féin

Cllr Anthony Kelly, Wexford Sinn Féin candidate for next general election

Wexford Town Borough councillor Anthony Kelly has been chosen to run as Sinn Féin candidate in Wexford in the upcoming General Election.  Cllr Kelly was chosen unopposed at the recent Wexford Sinn Féin selection convention, held at St Joseph’s centre in Bishopswater last Thursday night.

Speaking after his selection, Cllr Kelly said that he felt very proud to be selected as a candidate for Sinn Féin at this imperative moment in Irish politics, and thanked the members of Wexford Sinn Féin for their support. He also stressed his pleasure at seeing so much unity at the selection convention, and his faith in the growing membership of Wexford Sinn Féin to work hard for his campaign.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Cllr Kelly said, “The polls are showing us riding high, but I’ve never paid much attention to them. What matters is action. The Wexford people have the power to take action on Election Day and vote in a new voice. Sinn Féin has presented truly alternative policies to the worn consensus being offered up by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour. I look forward to bringing these policies to the Wexford people over this campaign. I think they will see that Sinn Féin is now the only opposition party left in this country. It’s time to make the big change Wexford.”