Disillusioned public need new type of politicians to give them faith in state – Kelly

Sinn Féin representative, Cllr Anthony Kelly, has said that the people of County Wexford need a new type of politician practising a new type of politics to give them back their faith in the state.  The general election candidate said he was shocked by the amount of people who told him that they weren’t voting this Friday, and believes it is a direct result of the corruption and false promises of previous elected TDs in the county.

“I was shocked to discover a type of apathy among people while I was canvassing,” Cllr Kelly said, “A common reaction was, sure they’re all the same, what’s the point in voting at all.  I can understand that people are upset and under extreme pressure.  Nearly twenty thousand Wexford people are on the live register.  Families are being broken up by the terrible return of emigration.  The future seems uncertain and I know people are losing hope.  This election offers new hope.  Not using your vote won’t change anything.  In fact it will keep the likes of Fianna Fail in power.  The only way to change anything is to get out and vote for change this Friday.”

“The political system has failed the Irish people.  It is unaccountable and protects those who have abused public office.  There is no doubt that changes to the system are drastically needed.  Reform must focus on ensuring political institutions are inclusive, accessible and accountable.  Sinn Féin would make the Dáil more accessible to the public and change the law to allow for the impeachment, or removal from the Dáil, of any TD involved in corruption or deliberate misuse of public money.  We would cut Ministerial salaries by 40% and TDs’ salaries by 20%, and we would end the payment of unvouched expenses.  Many politicians talk about political reform today, but they had chances to introduce such changes in the past and didn’t.  Sinn Féin would use their opportunity to make these changes, and if the people of County Wexford elect me, I will fight for such reform to be introduced.”

Cut the TDs instead of the people

Cllr Anthony Kelly has condemned what he calls "Hollow lip service" from the leaders of Fianna Fail and the Green party, after they both promised to waive some of their wages today. The Sinn Féin candidate for County Wexford has said that this is too little too late, and frankly an insult to the people of Ireland who have been forced to take mass cuts in their standard of living, due to reductions in social welfare payments, cuts to the minimum wage and the introduction of the universal social charge.

Cllr Kelly said;

"These are hollow promises being issued by the men who turned a blind eye to their own greed as our economy sank. This hollow lip service will do nothing to help the half a million unemployed in this country, or the thousands of young people getting ready to emigrate. Mr Martin is trying to paint himself as a reformer, yet he was happy to go along with the corrupt system during the past two decades of mis-rule. Its time to clean up Ireland. The Irish people have been cut to the bone, now its the TDs turn to pay."

"Sinn Féin has been calling for reform to our political system for some time. We are committed to cutting Ministers salaries by 40% and TDs salaries by 20%. We would stop the practice of TDs getting extra money to chair committees and stop severance pay for ministers who continue to hold elected office and pensions for ministers who continue to work. We will bring forward legislation in the new Dáil to cut ministers salaries and end these bad practices. If Fianna Fáil and the other parties are serious about political reform they should back this legislation.”