Galway West

Adams vows Sinn Féin will deliver for Gaeltacht in Government

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Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams vowed that his party would deliver for the Gaeltacht if it leads the next Government – claiming Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have never stood up for Irish speakers.

He was addressing the launch of Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh’s Galway West election campaign in Carraroe, where he said it was not an exaggeration to say the Gaeltacht and islands communities were struggling to survive.

“Many fear that if this government is re-elected they will not survive.  These communities have been forced to protest to save their air link to the mainland and to save small Gaeltacht schools,” he said.

“Udaras na Gaeltachta has been hollowed out and stripped of funds.

“The rights of Irish speakers have not been upheld and the neglect of our Gaeltacht areas has starved communities of investment, funding and services and contributed to depopulation and isolation.  That is the legacy of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour. That is why the Gaeltacht needs a government that cares.

“A Sinn Féin led government would stand up for the Gaeltacht and Irish language speakers,” he added.

Speaking at his launch Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh described 2016 as a ‘year of opportunity and promise’.

“We can end the rule of parties that have failed to deliver the republic promised and hard fought for in 1916. A Sinn Féin led progressive government would build a fair recovery, would invest in public services and would progress the cause of Irish Unity,” he told supporters.

“Fine Gael and Labour are not promising stability; they are promising more of the same – 1,500 children sleeping in emergency accommodation, 98,000 families in mortgage arrears, increased rents, evictions and homelessness

“This Government has cut benefits to those most in need and imposed the property tax and water charges on us all. They have failed the health service and believe that it is acceptable that our grandparents, our parents our partners and our children languish on waiting lists and hospital trolleys.

“Sinn Féin has a vision, grounded in the republican values of 1916. We have a plan for a fair recovery. A fair recovery that will benefit all our people equally. We want to lead a government that will deliver equality and prosperity, unity and inclusion,” he added.

 

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