Sinn Féin election manifesto

The following is an appeal for the Westminster election by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, followed by the key points of the party’s election manifesto.

INTRODUCTION FROM GERRY ADAMS MP

Sinn Féin is the Irish Republican Party -- the united Ireland party. We are the party of radical social and economic change. We are the party of equality. This comprehensive manifesto sets out in detail our policies on defending and advancing the peace process, on protecting public services, on tackling the crisis in rural communities and redressing structural inequality. We also set out our approach to improving our health service and education system and a range of other social, economic and cultural issues.

The crisis in the peace process is, of course, the central focus in this election. For the past four months the process has been in freefall. On April 6th, in a serious effort to halt the backward slide, I made an unprecedented appeal to the IRA to commit itself to purely peaceful and democratic methods. The IRA leadership has now agreed to take this debate forward.

This presents a huge challenge to the British government to face up to its responsibilities on equality, human rights, demilitarisation, justice and policing.

It is a challenge to the Irish government to address the united Ireland agenda and the rights of Irish citizens living in the north.

It is a challenge to unionism to finally accept equality and human rights.

We now have an unprecedented opportunity to make progress, to finally and conclusively deal with outstanding issues and to see the Good Friday Agreement realised in full.

We have to build the alternative to conflict, to make politics work and to deliver radical social and economic change.

Sinn Féin is the strongest pro-Agreement party in this election, we are the strongest nationalist party, we are the only all-Ireland party. Our experienced and determined leadership team will enter the renewed negotiations positively and committed to making progress.

Your vote will strengthen our hand.

On May 5th I am asking you to vote Sinn Féin.

MANIFESTO - KEY POINTS

Seek support for Gerry Adams’s initiative to rebuild the peace process
Challenge unionism to reject sectarianism and accept equality and inclusivity
Challenge the British and Irish governments to deliver on their responsibilities on demilitarisation, equality, human rights, Irish language, and justice and policing
Full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
Transfer of powers on policing and justice
A ban on the use of plastic bullets
The repeal of oppressive legislation
Truth on state violence and collusion
An effective truth recovery mechanism
A Green Paper on Irish unity to be published within one year
The 18 Westminster MPs to automatically be accorded membership of the Dail, with consultative and speaking rights
Voting rights in presidential elections to be extended to citizens in the Six Counties
The All-Ireland Ministerial Council to have its remit developed and expanded
Balanced development for people living within the Border Corridor
An all-Ireland anti-poverty strategy
Putting Targeting Social Need on a mandatory statutory footing
Compliance by employers with affirmative action measures
Ensuring that the Single Equality Act is harmonised
Enhanced monitoring mechanisms to measure outcomes of policies
Effective measures to eradicate the unemployment differential between Catholic and Protestant males within five years
More powers and resources for the Equality Commission
Additional funding for small rural primary schools to enable them to remain viable
The appointment of an all-Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
Equality of access to a quality health and social service
A properly resourced and effective Waste Management Strategy
A comprehensive, integrated rural development programme
Anti-discrimination legislation to tackle the growing gender pay gap between women and men
All political parties to sign an anti-racist pledge
The introduction of an Irish Language Bill for the North
The development of an all-Ireland economy
Targets to address unemployment amongst people with disabilities
Commissioner for Senior Citizens

Urgent Appeal