Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in government will not deliver change – Carthy
“Programme for Government offers nothing for Cavan Monaghan” says Sinn Féin TD
Responding to Monday’s announcement that the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party have agreed a Programme for Government, Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said that such a collation will not deliver the change that people voted for in February.
He said that the Programme for Government offers nothing to Counties like Cavan and Monaghan and said that, if the deal goes through the respective party memberships, that he and Sinn Féin would provide effective and sustained opposition on behalf of ordinary families and workers.
Deputy Carthy said:
“Sinn February’s election I have been working as part of Sinn Féin’s negotiating team to try to deliver a government that would implement the type of change that voters endorsed. Unfortunately, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael excluded Sinn Féin from the government formation process in an attempt to deny change, to protect the status-quo and to continue with the same politics that have so badly failed our communities.
“This week they reached an agreement on a Programme for Government with the Green Party.
“But the reality is that a government led by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – no matter who they are propped up by – does not represent the change that people voted for and will not deliver for workers and families.
“Their record in government together over the past four years shows us exactly what they will do if this Programme for Government is endorsed by the parties involved.
“What we need is a break from the past, not a repeat of it.
“That means rebuilding the economy in a fair and sustainable way, delivering affordable housing, delivering universal healthcare, making sure workers can retire at the age of sixty-five, investing in our forgotten regions such as Cavan Monaghan and delivering the type of real change required to tackle the climate emergency.
“This will not be delivered by a Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael led government.
“But those who voted for change should not lose faith. The future is still there to be won. Sinn Féin will never give up because we believe that we are within touching distance of a better Ireland. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil can delay change, but they cannot stop it. In the short term, should the respective party memberships endorse this deal the Sinn Féin will provide an effective and sustained opposition on the part of those we represent.”
Deputy Carthy also said that the Programme for Government offered nothing for counties such as Cavan and Monaghan. He said:
“The Programme for Government offers nothing to this constituency. The first line in the subsection on Regional Development actually states “regional development is critical to reduce pressure on the Greater Dublin area.” This crystallises the emphasis on these three parties for our rural communities.
“The only guaranteed outcome for families and workers in these counties is that they will be paying substantially more in Carbon taxes. There is no reference to undergrounding the north-south interconnector; no reference to developing services at Monaghan County Council. There is every likelihood that local roads funding will be curtailed and there is none of the ambition that’s required to revitalise our local towns and villages.
“Nothing within this document suggests a new departure from this same old, same old government. They will though be held to account and local Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs are put on notice. We in Sinn Féin will not allow bland rhetoric to substitute the investment in infrastructure and services that this region needs and deserves”.
ENDS
