Sinn Fein Unveil Assembly Manifesto

Sinn Fein has this week announced their election manifesto, using Belfast's Baby Grand theatre as the location.

Amongst the party's priorities, like delivering a Bill of Rights, a call for tax-varying and borrowing powers to be transferred to Stormont, opposing an increase in student fees and the introduction of water charges, they will also seek a referendum on Irish unity.

The party also proposed a referendum on a new all-Ireland constitution, and they want people in Northern Ireland to be allowed to vote in Irish presidential elections.

Deputy leader Martin McGuinness said that in the four years following the restoration of devolution in 2007, "much has changed".

Mr McGuinness commented: "The locally elected executive, assembly and all-Ireland bodies are working for the benefit of people across this island.

"As a society we cannot allow those within and those outside the political process attempt to drag us back. They cannot and will not be allowed to succeed. Those days are gone and will not return.

"While we all retain our differences, we can all be proud of the role we have played in promoting the peace process, by stabilising these institutions and demonstrating the primacy of politics."

Other goals laid out in the manifesto included promoting the Irish language act, and implementing all-Ireland strategy to create new Gaeltacht areas, particularly in urban centres, bringing in all-Ireland public health system which provides free care at point of delivery and reinstating 50-50 Catholic/Protestant recruitment policy to the PSNI.

(JG/GK)