Sinn Féin has asked the Irish public to “lend us your vote” saying there is a “moment we have never had in a century that exists right now” to change the Government.
In a strategy reminiscent of Fine Gael’s Phil Hogan in the 2011 general election, when he called on the public and Fianna Fáil voters to lend their votes to his party, the Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty asked voters who do not traditionally align with his party to give them a borrowed chance.
“If you want these parties out of Government then lend us your vote. Lend your vote because it is only Sinn Féin that can stop Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael re-entering Government after Friday’s election. Lend us your vote to give us a chance to make life better for you, your families and for your communities.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are trying to convince you that change is not possible so let’s together prove them wrong,” Doherty said on Merrion Street in Dublin as the general election campaign enters its final hours.
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“I genuinely believe that there is an opportunity here, that wasn’t there in the past. There is an opportunity now for people who really want change. People need to come out and support us and lend us their vote. We are standing 71 candidates. We feel a momentum on the ground. There is a moment we have never had in a century that exists right now.”
He also said “by voting for an Independent, you’re not changing the Government, and that’s the reality. A lot of people know that hand on heart. There are also people out there who don’t support Sinn Féin, but definitely don’t want Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in Government. We are saying to them, we understand you may not be Sinn Féin voters but you want Fianna Fáil out, so lend us your vote.”
Mr Doherty was asked what policies or plans Sinn Féin would drop after Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin indicated on the RTÉ TV debate that his party would not proceed with tax cuts, while Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said he would borrow to pay for investments in areas such as housing.
“In relation to a shock to the economy, if there was one to exist, the first thing we would do is use the buffers that are built in. We plan to record surpluses of €15 billion over the next five years. That would complement what is already in the Future Ireland and Climate Fund. So that’s the first thing.
“The second thing we would do, is not do what Micheál Martin and Fine Gael did which is launch austerity while protecting the bankers and elites. The investment that is necessary to support the economy and people will go ahead. After using the buffers, we would borrow in relation to funding that type of infrastructure which is needed.”
Asked if he accepted that narrowing the tax base by abolishing the €500 million property tax and carbon could cause financial issues, he said: “No, not at all. Our tax package is about fairness, abolishing USC on the first €45,000 of income is fair.”
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