Sinn Féin launches job plan

Local Sinn Féin representatives, including Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Senator Kathryn Reilly launched the party's plan to create over 150,000 jobs at a meeting held in the Hotel Kilmore, Cavan, earlier today. Titled 'Investing in Ireland's Future, Create Jobs-Create Growth', it details a jobs stimulus strategy that will invest €13 billion into job creation and retention, and create an average of 156,000 short and long-term jobs. Sinn Féin hope the proposals made in the economic document can, and will be considered by the government, particularly in the forthcoming December budget, and in tandem with their own pre-budget propositions. The party says the days of party politics for party gain are all but over, stating that with the economy in the condition it is, that all elected representatives need to work together for the good of the people. "These are socially responsible and realisable proposals. The money is there; it is in the National Pension Reserve Fund, the European Investment Bank, the private pension sector, and in the money the government plans to cut from its capital budget spend," Senator Reilly told those in attendance. Using examples of local recent job losses across the county, Deputy Ó Caoláin said investment is needed if the Irish economy is to get back on its feet again. "Austerity doesn't work, it has been a mantra of Sinn Féin that you cannot cut your way out of recession. The scandal is that this government will continue to fritter away the money in the NPRF; put money into toxic banks and pay off unguaranteed bondholders, while older citizens lose home care supports, and there are cuts in wages; support for lone parents, carers, citizens with disabilities, the blind and the unemployed. "This is a thoughtful, rational, well developed and costed plan that will use available resources in an intelligent and beneficial way. We will be making it available to enterprise boards, business associations and the general public," he said. For more in-depth detail on the Sinn Féin plan, see next week's Anglo Celt.