Sinn Féin General Election candidate Councillor John Brady has called on the people of Wicklow to vote, in the forthcoming General Election, for Sinn Féin’s progressive, republican vision for Ireland and Wicklow.
He said that the Fine Gael and Labour Party government had delivered nothing but chaos during their five years in office and that only the well-heeled would benefit from their re-election.
Councillor Brady was speaking at launch of his campaign in the Royal Hotel in Bray this evening where he was joined by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD.
He said;
“A Sinn Féin led progressive government would build a fair recovery, would invest in public services and would progress the cause of Irish Unity.
“Fine Gael and Labour talk of stability and chaos. The truth is they have delivered chaos in hospitals, chaos in housing and chaos in communities over the past 5 years. A Fianna Fáil government closed Wicklow District Hospital and the Orchard Welfare Home in Bray. Fine Gael and Labour closed the 24hr A&E in St. Columcille’s Hospital
“They have failed the health service and believe that it is acceptable that our grandparents, our parents our partners and our children languish on waiting lists and hospital trolleys. There are 23 people on trolleys in St. Vincent’s Hospital as we sit here this evening. This is mainly because they closed the A&E in Loughlinstown, Hospital, something all 5 Wicklow TDs supported. 415 people nationally lying on trollies.
“In the area of housing they have taken the side of the banks, landlords and developers. 1,500 children are sleeping in emergency accommodation, nearly 20% of them in Wicklow alone. We have 98,000 families in mortgage arrears across the state, while many families are faced with ever-increasing rents, evictions and homelessness.
“They claim their austerity policies have led to recovery. This is a lie; there is no recovery for the vast majority of ordinary citizens. Only the well heeled and those with the deep pockets have benefited and will continue to benefit from Fine Gael and Labour. Their policies have deepened and prolonged the recession.
“Since 2008 Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour have cut 32,000 jobs in the public service. They have placed the private debt of banks, bondholders and developers onto the shoulders of the people. A generation has been lost to emigration. This is the cost of their economic policies. The recovery in jobs has not been due to the actions of this government. For the first three years they simply done what the Troika told them and got lucky for the last two years.
“This is not the record that any government should be proud off. This is the record of parties that have failed to deliver. Parties that lack a vision, a plan and lack ambition for our people and our economy.
“Furthermore, I will bring an end to the parochial way of doing politics here in Wicklow. If and when elected I will be a TD for Arklow, Newtownmountkennedy, Coolfancy, Kilmac, Donard, Carnew, Lakin, Rathvilly and every other town and village in Wicklow/East Carlow
“Sinn Féin have a vision, grounded in the republican values of 1916. We have a plan for a fair recovery. A fair recovery that will benefit all our people equally. We want to lead a government that will deliver equality and prosperity, unity and inclusion. To build a true republic. That is our ambition. I am asking the people to vote for that vision in forthcoming General Election.”
ENDS
As part of his speech this evening, Cllr Brady committed to the following:
Supporting business to continue to create quality jobs that pay across Wicklow/East Carlow. Investing in the TV and Film Industry, Tourism and making Wicklow the capital for outdoor recreational activities and water borne sports.
Giving the Fishing industry a better and fairer deal. Investing in the Fishing fleet and harbours in Arklow, Wicklow Town and getting the Greystones fishing boats back into our harbour.
Helping low and middle income families by increasing the minimum wage, abolishing the property tax, tackling extortionate mortgages, abolishing Water Charges and consigning Irish Water to the dustbin of history.
Ending the housing crisis, building 100,000 social and affordable homes, supporting the rights of tenants and helping those in mortgage distress.
Ending the trolley and waiting list crisis, increase spending on healthcare by €3.3 billion to move from a failing two tier health system to universal healthcare.
Rebuilding rural Wicklow by ensuring we have communities where the quality of life is matched by the quality of public services and which welcomes back those forced to emigrate over recent years.
Ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.
Securing a referendum on Irish unity and beginning the practical preparations for Irish reunification.
Rooting out corruption in politics and cutting the salaries of politicians. If elected I commit to taking home the average industrial wage and putting the remainder into providing a better constituency service for all in Wicklow/East Carlow.
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