RSS Feeds

Gerry Adams' campaign diary

Second entry

It's hard to believe that it is only five days since the election was called and I suppose there was a fair degree of cynicism from many young people at the government's decision to put polling on a Thursday, something which will disenfranchise thousands of people working and studying away from home.

At a time when states right across the world are making it easier for people to register and to vote, it seems that this government has gone the exact opposite direction. That said it is important to vote. And in a PR election seats can be won or lost on a handful of votes so the decision that you make is important.

But democracy is about much more than casting your vote every five years. Citizens should be able to and have a responsibility to participate in decision making, locally and nationally, to contribute to society and to have their voices heard.

One of the issues which I raised during my Ard Fheis speech earlier this year was about the need for the education system to prepare young people for life and encourage creativity and human thought and not just be about providing the next generation of workers.

There needs to be a new emphasis in the school curriculum at primary and secondary level on civic education, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and encouragement of voluntary activity across society.

Since the election was called myself and Martin McGuinness and other Sinn Féin leaders have visited 29 constituencies across the state seeking a mandate to be in government in the south. We are very clear that we will go into government if we receive a sufficient mandate and can agree a programme based on equality, eliminating poverty, investing in public services and preparing for Irish unity.

We have also been working with Ian Paisley and the DUP to finalise preparations for the return of the power sharing institutions in the north next Tuesday. And in the coming weeks we will see Sinn Féin and DUP ministers taking governmental decision on the All-Ireland Ministerial Council with whoever forms the next government. That point seems to have been missed by people in some parties, possibly deliberately. But ultimately it is the people who will decide so get out and vote.

First entry

"It has been a very busy couple of months for Sinn Féin. Since Christmas we have held two Ard Fheiseanna, contested the Assembly elections and got 28 Sinn Féin MLAs elected, helped secure the return of the power-sharing government in the north and our campaign for the General Election has now just begun.

This year has probably been one of the most exciting and hopeful times in recent memory and our objective in the time ahead is to see our agenda for change implemented. We want to see Sinn Féin in government, north and south. In government our priority would be building a strong and equal economy, tackling the crisis in the health service, building social and affordable housing, reducing class sizes and continuing our work in the peace process and for Irish unity. And we will go into government if we get a sufficient mandate and if we can secure inter party agreement on such a programme.

The last few weeks have been dominated by opinion polls and stamp duty.

The issue of stamp duty has brought together some strange bed fellows in Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the Progressive Democrats. It seems to me that changing stamp duty at a time when the government is almost totally reliant on property developers for house building is a recipe for disaster.

The only people who will benefit are property developers. There are other, better ways of helping first-time buyers and families trying to get a home. We think that the most effective way to intervene is through mortgage interest relief. We also know that what is urgently required to help the 44,000 families on the housing waiting list is a social house-building programme of at least 14,000 houses a year over the lifetime of the next government. There are no short cuts.

Over the last two weeks there have been some good joint initiatives from young people involved in political parties, including Ógra Shinn Féin calling for the election to be held at the weekend to maximise the turn out of young people and opposing the use of Shannon airport by the US military on their way to Iraq.

Everyone involved should be commended for working together. It is vital that more people become involved in politics and the 85 per cent turn out in the French Presidential election shows us what is possible.

Over the last few days I have been in Dublin canvassing with Mary Lou McDonald and Dessie Ellis and in Meath with Joe Reilly. A number of things have struck me - there is a palpable mood for change and there is huge support for Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley jointly leading the power sharing government in the north.

And there is also one constant refrain - how at a time of unprecedented resources are the health service and education system having such problems. There is still a strong sense of social solidarity in this country.

The vast majority of people want to see resources used for the benefit of all. They don't want to see anyone left behind. Over the coming weeks I will be travelling the length and breadth of Ireland. I am certain that this is going to be a very interesting election campaign."