This year's European election is about securing a strong voice for Munster at the European table. Europe impacts on ordinary people in many ways - and the impact is not always a good one. In today's Europe, too much power is being concentrated in Brussels; the free market gets priority over the rights of workers and the protection of public services; and ambitious plans are being laid for a militarised EU able to project its power overseas.
"That is not the Europe that Sinn Féin wants. Sinn Féin believes in a social Europe that puts the needs of people before the greed of corporations and bankers; a democratic Europe which its citizens can hold to account. That vision marks us out as different from all of the other Irish political parties.
Protecting Jobs and Prosperity
Equal access to first class education is the best means of helping everyone to succeed - and skilled workers and innovative research will be the foundation of our economy in the future. Now is the time to invest in Ireland's infrastructure and education system, giving workers and small businesses the tools to create a stronger economy. We need to retrain workers who have been made redundant so that they can find new jobs. We need to invest in building schools, social housing and transport, providing much needed employment as we do so. We must develop our indigenous industries and our export sector.
Strengthening Families and Communities
A strong economy is not enough - we need a strong social society as well. I believe in an Ireland that supports families, strengths and unities, and ensures nobody is left behind. I want to see a comprehensive system of state-supported childcare. Such a system already exists in Sweden - with the result that lone parents, in particular, are enabled to participate in the labour market. We need responsive, community-based policing that will tackle the problems of anti-social behaviour and drugs. We need a planning system that creates living neighbourhoods with the facilities that families need, not just dormitory estates and apartment blocks. I want us to celebrate and support the people in sports clubs and voluntary organisations across the country who give freely of their time for the benefit of others.
Defending Public Services
The European Union has been the driving force behind an increasingly aggressive move to privatise and undermine essential public services, from local post offices to the health service. I will campaign vigorously to ensure essential public services are kept in public ownership and are provided with the resources they need.
Standing up for Rural Ireland
Rural Ireland must be re-energised with services like post offices, schools and transport protected. Ireland must not become a dumping ground for unregulated produce such as Brazilian beef. There are new economic opportunities for Ireland as a producer of safe local food and renewable energy. Rural communities must be given the assistance they need to exploit these. The unfair discrimination against Irish fishing communities must be reversed.
Building towards Irish Unity
The peace process has opened the way towards national reconciliation and Irish Unity. I believe we should work towards making a United Ireland a reality by increasing the areas of North-South co-operation and developing a community of interests across the island.
Securing Energy Independence
Ninety per cent of the energy needed to run our economy comes from abroad. High prices and insecure supplies threaten our future prosperity. I believe it is time for Ireland to seek energy independence. A start could be made by reversing the giveaway of 15 billion euros worth of Ireland's natural gas to Shell. We must exploit the potential of wind and wave power off our coast, and launch a massive drive for energy efficiency. The export of renewable energy - and the technologies that exploit it - can become a major new industry for Ireland in the 21st century.
|  |
|
You are here::
