Longford/Westmeath Sinn Féin Deputy, Sorca Clarke, has responded to the formal formation of a three political party coalition Government.
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party have agreed and sealed a Programme for Government despite the strong showing of Sinn Féin in the February General Election.
“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 workers and families.
“They are now both in a three party coalition 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.
“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 and delivering the type of real change required to tackle the climate emergency.
“This will not be delivered by the newly installed coalition Government.
“To those who voted for change, I say this, do not give up. 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,” Deputy Clarke asserted.