CHANGE IS IN YOUR HANDS - ADAMS

Date: 16th May '02

Name: article from RM Irish news round up

CHANGE IS IN YOUR HANDS - ADAMS

Campaigning has quietened of the eve of the opening of the polls
in what may prove a historic general election in the 26 Counties.

With showery weather predicted for many areas, the effort is now
to encourage a maximum turnout.

Speaking in Dublin as the election campaign was drawing to a
close, the Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams appealed to people to
come out in strength on Friday and use their vote to create
change.

"In the course of this campaign I have travelled the length and
breath of the country and the one message that I hear every day
is that it is time for change," he said. "But we cannot take
anything for granted. If we are to bring about change then the
electorate must come out in strength on Friday.

"Sinn Fein is the only real alternative in this race and we are
getting the most positive response we have ever had. People are
responding to our work on the peace process and our proposals on
health, housing, childcare, job creation, rural regeneration,
equality and respect for the people's decision on the Nice
Treaty.

"Over the past three weeks Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and the
PDs hid behind economists rather than deal with the real concerns
of the Irish people. They have predictably avoided defending
their records on the two tier health system, on the housing
crisis, on the issue of Irish Unity and on a whole raft of other
social and economic matters. They have avoided explaining their
mismanagement of the wealth created by the Celtic Tiger over the
past ten years.

"Sinn Fein is committed to our vision of an Ireland of Equals. We
are committed to providing effective leadership on the ground, in
the councils, in the six county assembly and Executive, in the
all-Ireland bodies and in the next Dail.

"I am confident that we have succeeded in delivering the Sinn
Fein message of change to the electorate - a unique political and
social vision of a new Ireland. And I would appeal to people to
come out in strength on Friday and use their vote to create
change."

PEACE PROCESS: SINN FEIN'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Flanked by the Sinn Fein national leadership, the party's Chief
Negotiator, Martin McGuinness MP, said that Friday's election
would undoubtedly lead to increased Sinn Fein representation and
help to bring about lasting change in Irish society.

"A vote for Sinn Fein in this election is a vote for peace," Mr
McGuinness said. "It is an endorsement of our peace strategy, a
declaration of support for a peaceful united Ireland, a call for
more effective representation in the Dail, and will help build a
radical alternative across the entire country.

"Sinn Fein is the only all-Ireland party contesting this
election. Unlike any other party, we will have representatives in
the Dail, the Six County Assembly and Executive, and the
All-Ireland Ministerial Council.

"In the Six Counties, Sinn Fein is the leading nationalist party.
We have four Westminster MPs, 18 MLAs, 118 councillors, and two
ministers in the Executive and the all-Ireland Ministerial
Council. Here we currently have one TD and 57 councillors. This
is a formidable line-up.

"Across the island, Sinn Fein commands more electoral support
than the SDLP, the Labour Party, the PDs and the Green Party. And
that support is set to rise during this election.

"Sinn Fein is proud of the progress we have made in recent years.
We are particularly pleased about the central role we are playing
in the peace process. I believe the peace process is Sinn Fein's
greatest achievement. But there is a lot more work to be done we
are seeking support to continue that work.

"Sinn Fein brings this same determination, commitment and
dedication to our work of building an Ireland of equals.

"That means vigourously pursuing our all-Ireland agenda. It means
looking for practical opportunities to bring both parts of the
island's political system together on an range of economic,
social and cultural matters. This can best be done through
developing and expanding the all-Ireland Ministerial Council.

Mr McGuinness said Sinn Fein also wanted to give a voice to those
who have benefited from the prosperity of the economic boom.

"Many people's incomes may have improved but there is a downside.

"The Fianna Fail/PD government and before them the Rainbow
coalition has mismanaged the wealth which has been created during
the last ten years of plenty. They failed to use it to upgrade
the health service. They have not used it to build an effective
roads and public transport network. They have left families
struggling in the absence of quality or affordable childcare
facilities. And they have plunged us into the biggest housing
crisis in the history of this state.

"Sinn Fein also want to provide leadership to those who were not
reached by the Celtic Tiger's prosperity in cities, towns and
villages around the country. They are on the margins of society
through no fault of their own.

"A society has to be judged not just by how well it treats those
who can take advantage of good economic times but how the rest of
our people are treated.

"In this election I have been at pains to point out to people
that Sinn Fein stands for something new, for an alternative, for
a fresh approach. We stand for change.

"We are a people-centred party and we are motivated by a
philosophy which places the needs of the people in front of every
other consideration.

"I am confident we have delivered the republican message of
change, of an 'alternative' to the electorate. And I am confident
that they will respond in kind by electing Sinn Fein TDs to
Leinster House."

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