Property tax removal a condition for coalition, says Adams

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has confirmed that reversing the property tax will be a bottom-line issue for the party to enter a coalition government.

However, he refused to say if a 48 per cent rate of tax for those earning €100,000 or more would be a deal-breaker.

Over the weekend Mr Adams told a Sinn Féin meeting the party needs to begin preparing for government and getting its policy priorities right.

Outlining the party’s strategy, he told RTE this morning this will mean developing and working out where best it can stand in preparing candidates and also changing mindsets.

“We want to be in government and we want to be ambitious for change,” he said.

He said Sinn Féin would not go into government like Labour did and provide a cover for conservative parties.

“Let’s get ready to be in government and let’s work out the terms.”

When pressed on specific non-negotiable issues for Sinn Féin, Mr Adams agreed it would insist on property tax being scrapped.

But in response to persistent questioning on Morning Ireland, Mr Adams would not give the same commitment for the top rate of tax for those earning over €100,000.

“We are putting people on alert that we need to be ready for government. This will all be prepared in the upcoming period,” he said.

Mr Adams emphasised the biggest difference between Sinn Féin and other parties was its emphasis on core republican values, and the entitlements of citizens to a job, a clean environment and other rights.

“We want to see a strategy for Irish unity,” he said, saying Sinn Féin wanted a democratic way of bringing it about with unionists.Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has confirmed that reversing the property tax will be a bottom-line issue for the party to enter government.

However, he refused to say if a 48 per cent rate of tax for those earning €100,000 or more would be a deal-breaker.

Over the weekend Mr Adams told a Sinn Féin meeting the party needs to begin preparing for government, getting its policy priorities right.

Outlining the party's strategy, he told RTÉ radio this morning that it will mean getting policy priorities right, developing and working out where best it can stand in preparing candidates and also changing mindsets.

“We want to be in government and we want to be ambitious for change,” he said.

He said Sinn Féin would not go into government like Labour did and provide a cover for conservative parties.

“Let’s get ready to be in government and let’s work out the terms.”

When pressed on specific non-negotiable issues for Sinn Féin, Mr Adams agreed it would insist on property tax being scrapped.

But in response to persistent questioning on Morning Ireland, Mr Adams would not give the same commitment for the top rate of tax for those earning over €100,000.

“We are putting people on alert that we need to be ready for government. This will all be prepared in the upcoming period,” he said.

Mr Adams emphasised the biggest difference between Sinn Féin and other parties was its emphasis on core republican values, and the entitlements of citizens to a job, a clean environment and other rights.

“We want to see a strategy for Irish unity,” he said, saying Sinn Féin wanted a democratic way of bringing it about with unionists.