Sinn Féin's election manifesto is "“based on a broad republican platform of citizenship and equality”, party leader Gerry Adams told a news conference in Dublin this morning.
Unveiling the 40-page bilingual document, entitled There is a Better Way/Tá Bealach Níos Fearr Ann, Mr Adams said the election was an opportunity for citizens to "invest in the type of Ireland that they deserve".
"We know that some of the objectives in this manifesto, particularly in relation to the huge turnaround that's needed in our health services and in our education system will take time," he said.
"But we see this as an opportunity for citizens to invest in the type of Ireland that they deserve and that is an Ireland of equals."
Reflecting on his experience of canvassing in Louth, he said: "There is an awful lot of despair out there, a lot of distress, but it's really, really important that everyone rises above this very understandable emotion.
"This mess can be sorted out, but it needs people acting as citizens to take a stand, to come forward to use their votes and this manifesto of ours does point a way forward, a better way.
"We are the only party which have stated very, very clearly that we would reverse budget cuts, specifically to public services, social welfare and the minimum wage.
Mr Adams said the party would abolish the universal social charge. "We are also seeking a mandate for the root-and-branch reform of our political system, for the protection and creation of jobs and, through that stimulus, the regeneration of our economy," Mr Adams said. "We're looking for an end to the two-tier health and education systems, for the proper use of our natural resources in the common and for the continued support, by government and others, of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement,."
The party's finance spokesman, Pearse Doherty, said: "You can't close the deficit if you don't grow the economy and that is where Sinn Féin differs from the other political parties. We will tackle the job crisis through our stimulus plan."
He said the other main parties were committed to "a series of austerity measures and austerity budgets that will continue to deflate the economy".
"The reality is that, if cuts worked, then we wouldn't be in this position that we're at today and the simple position is that, cuts do not work," Mr Doherty said.
"Sinn Fein stood apart from the political parties last November, in arguing that the consensus for cuts and closing the deficit within four years was impossible. We said that we would deliver a plan that would close the financial deficit in six years, and we welcome the fact that some others now are coming along to our position," he said.
Party vice-president and Dublin Central Scandidate Mary Lou McDonald said politics in Ireland was "broken" and needs to be fixed.
"So in our manifesto we reiterate our call for an end to the kind of 'Mercs-and-perks' culture that has pervaded politics in this State," Ms McDonald said. "We reiterate our call for a cut of 40 per cent to ministerial salaries, 20 per cent to TDs' salaries and we also say that the chairing of Oireachtas committees, for instance, should not bring with it additional financial rewards."
On the future of Seanad Éireann, she said: "We see the value of a second chamber, but the point we're making is that, as it is currently constituted, not alone does it represent no value for money but there really isn't any additionality in terms of the legislative or democratic process. The very fact of the kind of limited franchise to elect people to that House is in itself problematic."
Sinn Féin was not opposed to a second chamber, she said, adding: "But it would have to be elected universally and represent value-added to the legislative process and to really represent what it initially set out to do, and that is to give a platform and an input to a broader range of people other than party-political persons."
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, commenting on references by Labour to Sinn Féin support for the bank guarantee scheme, said this was an effort "to muddy the waters, to distort the facts".
"The reality of the situation back in September 2008 is that the Labour Party, with no more information than any of the other Opposition voices, were very happy to burn ordinary bank depositors," he said.