Vote for real and lasting change

There are those out there who believe that a vote for Sinn Féin, or indeed for the other left wing or independent election candidates, is a wasted vote. There are people who claim that Sinn Féin can not enter government and so are irrelevant. The County Wexford Sinn Féin candidate has responded to these claims by saying that this election offers historic change. Cllr Anthony Kelly has urged the electorate to open their minds at this time and to realise, that if they so choose, the next Dail can be unrecognisable from the corrupt outgoing one.

Cllr Anthony Kelly said;

This election is a game breaker. For the first time since the formation of this state, real and lasting change is possible. Sinn Féin has shown that there is a better way. We have campaigned for the need to put people before toxic banks or high risk bondholders. We have prioritised job creation to jump start our economy and have denied the lies of other parties who claim that cuts and new taxation against the Irish worker can end our recession. We have gone to the people looking for a mandate to make our plan for recovery into the main policies of the next Irish government. Of course we can be part of that government."

"Every TD elected for Sinn Féin means a stronger voice for working families, the unemployed and all those struggling to survive. The more Sinn Féin TDs elected, the louder the voice for those they represent in the Dail. Sinn Féin TDs are there to serve the people, not to rule them or profit from them. I am asking the people of County Wexford to make the big change and to give Sinn Féin a chance to help this nation at this time. Please give me your number 1 vote on the 25th, and I promise that I will fight for this county."

Kelly condemns double standards of Irish politicians

Cllr Anthony Kelly has condemned the double standards employed by members of some Irish political parties after a week of brutal selfishness in the Dail.  The Sinn Féin general election candidate has said that at times during the week he felt ashamed to be in the same trade as these gombeen politicians.

“This past few weeks we witnessed eight Ministers resign, all too comfortable in the knowledge that they will receive full pensions,” Cllr Kelly said.  “Mary Harney will earn €325,000 for her decision to retire, considerably more than she would have earned if she had of been re-elected to the next Dail. Brian Cowen stepped down as leader of his party but felt that he was still good enough to lead the state.  To cap it all off, Fianna Fail, the Greens, Fine Gael and Labour have all got cosy again to push through the dreadful finance bill, which now includes a clause to block the proposed end of tax exemptions for the elite, but still carries through outrageous cuts to social welfare and the minimum wage.  No wonder we are the laughing stock of world affairs.”

Cllr Kelly said that his party were one hundred percent opposed to this double standard practice and promised that when elected to Leinster House, he would strive to root out this nonsense and to introduce Sinn Féin’s proposed political reform plan.  “No wonder people are saying that they will spoil their votes rather than vote for these people,” Cllr Kelly said, “I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t vote for the chancer’s either.  We need a new political system in this country which will restore people’s faith in their elected reps.  We need political reform and the restoration of the aims of 1916; to create a republic of equals.  I see no equality in a system where Mary Harney, an incompetent minister who made a complete mess of her portfolio gets paid 325,000, while thousands of unemployed citizens are cut by €8, and vitally needed hospital beds are closed to pay for it.”

"Good riddance to Harney & co. - Lets take our county back" says Sinn Féin hopeful, Kelly

Sinn Féin general election candidate, Cllr. Anthony Kelly, has called
on the people of County Wexford to "take their county back"

He was speaking in advance of a rally of Sinn Féin members in North
Wexford which was held in The Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey on Monday
evening (24th) and in the wake of the departure of Health Minister,
Mary Harney from office during the past week.
He said:

"We in Sinn Féin Loch Garman have for many years been campaigning for
the upgrading of Wexford General Hospital and have been fighting to
have the existing services protected.  Health is a basic right in any
republic.  We've always argued for an end to the present two-tiered
system; one waiting list for all in a public health service free at the
point of entry."

Addressing Minister Harney who stepped down during the week, Cllr. Kelly said:

"I'm sure we speak for countless people on hospital trolleys this week
when we say good riddance!  You and your government have damaged the
health of this state for too long!  We now need to intensify the fight
to upgrade Wexford General so that those living in the Gorey district,
will never in the event of an accident or emergency, be forced to
chose between a long trip north to St.Vincents in Dublin or south
through traffic in New Ross to get to Waterford Hospital.

He claimed that the "latest INMO figures which showed that Wexford
General has lost a total of 39 beds had confirmed Sinn Féin's belief that a
process of downgrading by stealth has been taking place across our
health service."

"We in Sinn Fein have contradicted the lie that we don't have the
money to build a first class public health service.  We just need elect
parties who will burn the bondholders, tax those who can most afford
to pay and divert this money towards supporting public services."

Referring to the Finance Bill which gives legal effect to the Fianna
Fáil/Green budget, he slammed Fine Gael / Labour for seeking to have
it pushed through this week.  It attacks the most vulnerable with a plan
to slash 1 billion from our health service.  How can you support this
and then try to fool the people of County Wexford into thinking that
you are offering a real alternative?"

He concluded by urging "all progressive minded people, who yearn for
change and regardless of previous political affiliations to join with
Sinn Fein in the campaign over the coming weeks to take their county,
and indeed country back from the Gombeenmen and women who have sold it
out in recent years".

Forgotten County pays for poor representation

Cllr Anthony Kelly has expressed outrage at the amount of expenses paid to Wexford’s five sitting oireachtas members over the past year.  Cllr. Kelly said that the €823,160 paid out to these people in expenses was the equivalent of throwing the families post office savings book down the toilet.

“What precisely gave these men the right to claim such lavish expenses,” Cllr Kelly asked, “In the past year Wexford has lost a rail line and vitally needed hospital beds.  We are in the process of losing our full time psychiatric unit, our special needs assistants in our schools, and god only knows what the future holds for Wexford General Hospital now that health funding is cut.”

“That’s not to mention the thousands of Wexford people who have lost their jobs, those who have been forced to emigrate or those vulnerable citizens who have recently had their benefits slashed.  They even found time to cut the minimum wage but still they have the nerve to claim these expenses.”

Cllr Kelly said that he would be claiming nothing of the sort if elected to Leinster House in the coming election, and promised that he would campaign for the cutting of Dail wages.  “Sinn Féin was the first party to call for cuts to TDs salaries, and a restrictive use of expenses.  We have consistently called for the abolishment of the Seanad, which cost the tax payer €344,364 for Wexfords three senators alone last year.”

“We welcome Labour jumping on this bandwagon now, but fear that their coalition with Fine Gael will prevent them from bringing forth any true reform in this area.”  Cllr Kelly reiterated his party’s position, stating that Sinn Féin would not enter government without these reforms and the necessity of job creation being put at the top of the agenda.