Adams launches Dublin campaign
BY TARA OÕLIATH
Sinn Féin candidate Aengus OÕSnodaighÕs campaign for the vacant Leinster House seat in Dublin South Central was launced this week by Gerry Adams in Dublin.
Opening the conference on Tuesday, 12 October, Adams said the partyÕs task now was to translate its potential into political strength in Leinster House, helping to promote Sinn FéinÕs peace strategy and through it, the peace process. By voting for Aengus OÕSnodaigh in the byelection, Adams said, the people of Dublin South Central can play their part in bringing about fundamental changes for the new millennium. Changes such as being in control of our own future, providing jobs, healthcare, decent homes and education, sharing the wealth and living together in peace and freedom.
Aengus OÕSnodaigh said he believed Sinn Féin can take the seat in this election. In a constituency which OÕSnodaigh said was full of "marked inequalities" where the failure of successive governments are all to easy to see, OÕSnodaighÕs background as a community activist will serve him well.
Married with two young sons, OÕSnodaigh is a former chairperson of Dublin Sinn Féin and has been a key figure in the partyÕs rise as an electoral force in the city. He is the author of the Sinn Féin policy document on the drugs epidemic, ÔEmpowering CommunitiesÕ.
"With the Dáil still dominated by two parties that share almost identical policies in the social and economic field, this byelection comes at a crucial time," said Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin.
"We still have a housing crisis, a crisis in the health service where we are on the verge of a nursesÕ strike and a rampant drug problem."
There is obviously a need for real opposition and Caoimhghín O Caoláin welcomed this byelection as "an opportunity to challenge the current government, two years into itÕs term, and to put forward Sinn FéinÕs alternative". He said: "Aengus OÕSnodaigh is an ideal candidate to represent Sinn Féin and the people of Dublin South Central."
OÕSnodaigh himself believes his constituency is an area of enormous potential with a strong sense of community and where people are working together to regenerate the area.
It is also an area, he said "where there is broad support for our party".
When asked whether he thought Sinn Féin would hold itÕ own in the election, Gerry Adams said: "People in this state have had the education of a lifetime. We canÕt match the big parties financially but we can over match them in terms of hard work and commitment."
At the time of the campaignÕs launch Martin McGuinness was meeting with Peter Mandelson and naturally, the topic was raised with Adams, who said: " I believe one person can make a difference and I hope he does, but itÕs not a simple matter of changing personalities, but policies".
In a cynical time where people are asking what can be done about corruption, betrayal and scandals, Aengus OÕSnodaigh says people hold the key to a solution: "Use your vote, donÕt accept the status quo, elect politicians who will make a difference. Vote Sinn Féin".
