Sinn Féin wants to lead the next government in the Republic and will not prop up a Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil led administration, the party's president Gerry Adams asserted in his keynote ardfheis speech on Saturday night.
Mr Adams told more than 1,000 delegates in the Millennium Forum in Derry that Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton feared the Sinn Fein challenge and would be "strident" in attacking the party.
He said there has been a “tsunami of untruths and smears” against Sinn Féin and members and supporters must “brace” themselves for continued attacks.
“Sinn Féin wants a mandate for government. I believe we can win that mandate,” he said. “Sinn Féin will not prop up either a Fine Gael or a Fianna Fáil government,” he pledged.
“Sinn Féin wants to lead the next Government. I am confident that when it comes to making a choice the people will make the change,” he predicted.
Mr Adams called for the four water protestors in prison to be released. “It is corrupt bankers and corrupt politicians who should be in jail and not water charge protesters,” he said.
The Sinn Féin president said that if the party was in the next government in the it would “abolish water charges”, “scrap the property tax” and “introduce a wealth tax”.
“We will bring in a third rate of income tax for those individuals earning over €100,000 - that’s 7 cent on every euro over €100,000. And Sinn Fein will take a further 200,000 people out of the universal social charge,” he promised.
“Sinn Féin will invest in local authority housing and introduce rent controls to help stem the rising tide of homelessness,” he said. “Families in mortgage distress need to be able to remain in the family home.
“Last year Sinn Féin introduced legislation to curb repossessions and to give other protections to families in mortgage distress. The Government rejected our proposals. Instead they gave the banks a veto. Sinn Féin will end that veto,” he said.
“The Government claims that a recovery is underway. If there is, it’s an unequal and unfair two-tier recovery. Sinn Féin wants to deliver a fair recovery,” he said.
“If and when Sinn Féin have the mandate we will work with others across the EU to find a sustainable long-term solution to the eurozone debt crisis,” he added.
In relation to recent calls for a left alliance, Mr Adams urged an island-wide campaign to promote “progressive” policies. “Sinn Féin will build a positive alliance with everyone who has this position, including other parties, the community and voluntary sector and trade unions.”
Mr Adams said that Sinn Féin would continue to oppose austerity in the North and South. “Austerity is not the solution. It is part of the problem. Sinn Féin is not the problem. We are part of the solution,” he said.
He also called for support for small to medium sized enterprises.
Mr Adams called for a “resounding yes” in the same sex marriage referendum on May 22nd. “All citizens whether they live in the Bogside or Baile Mhuirne or on the Shankill or Southhill are entitled to equality before the law, regardless of background, sexual orientation or gender. That is why Sinn Féin supports marriage equality for LGBT citizens,” he said. “Most people know a family member, work colleague or a neighbour who is gay and we love them for what they are.”
Mr Adams also defended Sinn Féin against attacks for adopting the Christmas Stormont House Agreement and particularly against opponents who claimed the party opposed austerity in the South but by accepting British government welfare reform endorsed it in the North.
“We succeeded in protecting those on benefits. We negotiated that there will be no reductions to any benefits under the control of the (Northern) Executive. That is fundamental to this agreement and Sinn Féin will hold to that and hold other parties to that commitment.”
Mr Adams said the Government’s attitude to this period of centenaries lacked ambition and substance. “It is little wonder they don’t want to celebrate the Proclamation. For their part they are embarrassed by its relevance for Ireland today. For our part the 1916 Proclamation remains the mission statement of modern Irish republicanism.”
Mr Adams called for a “national conversation” about a united Ireland. “Many people now realise that it makes no sense to have two economies, two education systems, two health systems, two tax codes, two currencies on one small island. The sense of one island, one Ireland can work for everyone.”
He added, “The people of this island, whether urban or rural, from whatever background or tradition, share a common history and our futures are bound together. We need to be reminded again and again that our flag is orange. Orange as well as green. Orange is part of what we are. That is our potential and our challenge, to unite Orange and Green in equality and mutual respect.
Mr Adams said that next week Sinn Féin will introduce legislation to extend the right to vote in presidential elections to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland and overseas.
He called on the Government to recognise Palestine as a state and paid tribute to Jim Cullen and Alan McConnell respectively of Friends of Sinn Féin in the US and Canada.
Mr Adams also told delegates that contentious issues such as parades could be resolved. He said that “dealing with the past is very difficult” but hoped that the Stormont House Agreement, put in place to address the past “will bring closure to victims”.
