Exclusive interview with Aaron Kelly

We can see this time and time again as scandals are now a regular occurence with this Government.

Exclusive interview with Aaron kelly:

1- What are the most critical issues facing the country at present?

The most critical issues facing our country at present are the lack of affordable housing, the failures in our healthcare system, the waste of public finances, and the chaotic mismanagement of international protection. 

2- Do you think the Fine Gael and the Fianna Fáil have been successful in tackling the issues?

Immigration: 

FF and FG have undermined cohesion and lost the public confidence when it comes to immigration due to a lack of appropriate community engagement. The blame for these failures lie solely with the government and not with foreign people seeking refuge. 

Housing:

Workers and families cannot afford to rent, and they cannot afford to buy.  The inadequate number of homes that are being built are being snapped up by investors or sold at prices first-time buyers simply cannot afford.  Home ownership has collapsed under this Government. 

Health:

The government accept that patients on trolleys, children waiting for treatment in pain, and long health waiting lists are now the standard. This simply isn't good enough. 

Public Finances:

The waste of public expenditure has been nothing short of criminal. We can see this time and time again as scandals are now a regular occurence with this Government. 

3- What policies has Sinn Féin proposed to address these challenges?

Immigration:

We would deliver a system that safeguards the cohesion of society for all who call Ireland home, ensuring fairness for local communities, decency, common sense, the protection of human rights and that also commands public support. Our policy also recognises both the needs of those seeking international protection and the pressures that many communities are under. We need a fair, efficient, and enforced immigration system. 

Housing:

We would double the number of new social homes delivered compared to the last government, slashing council waiting lists and ending long-term homelessness. We would increase the delivery of genuinely affordable homes tenfold, bringing home ownership back into reach for ordinary people. Our plan sets out how we can activate the private residential development sector to build more homes for people to buy, including first-time buyers, at more moderated prices. 

Healthcare:

We would work across the 32 counties to develop a first-class, all-Ireland National Health System that learns from the best and worst in both jurisdictions and across Europe. Our vision for an Irish NHS would deliver a publicly funded healthcare system for Ireland, which recognises physical and mental health as a human right.

Public Expenditure:

Sinn Féin would institute a range of measures to improve accountability at all levels of government to protect the integrity of public administration and ensure it serves the people of Ireland. We would put fairness, effectiveness and accountability at the heart of government. 

4- Given your engagement with the public, what's the general sentiment toward the Sinn Féin party among ordinary voters?

The general sentiment towards Sinn Féin, that I have witnessed from the general public, is the real desire for change in Ireland. We have had over a century of FF or FG led governments and people are open to giving Sinn Féin a chance to lead. It wasn't meant to be at the last election, there was a low turnout of voters, but that is now on us to work harder to convince the general public that there is an alternative if they get out and vote for change.