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Sinn F\u00e9in has pledged to secure a border poll within the next five years while also establishing a joint Oireachtas committee on a united Ireland.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in has pledged to secure a border poll within the next five years while also establishing a joint Oireachtas committee on a united Ireland.<\/p>\n
The party unveiled its manifesto, which includes publishing a white paper on a united Ireland as well as setting a date to end \u201clong-term\u201d homelessness.<\/p>\n
Among its pledges, Sinn F\u00e9in said it plans to abolish the Universal Social Charge on the first \u20ac30,000 earned and to abolish the property tax.<\/p>\n
The party said it will reduce rents by up to \u20ac1,500 a year via a refundable tax credit and freeze rent for three years.<\/p>\n
The party said it will also build 100,000 homes over the next five years.<\/p>\n
This, it added, will include council housing and affordable homes for renters and first-time buyers at a cost of \u20ac6.5bn.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in has also pledged to give the Central Bank powers to cap mortgage interest rates.<\/p>\n
The party also said it will reduce the cost of childcare by \u20ac500 per month and end third-level fees.<\/p>\n
It also wants to lower the voting age to 16 and introduce gender quotas for ministers and increase the gender quota of D\u00e1il elections to 50%.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in said it also wants an hourly Belfast to Dublin train service.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the launch at the Temple Bar Gallery and Studios in Dublin, party leader Mary Lou McDonald said people are looking for something new from government, including affordable homes, being able to see doctors and access to a decent education.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a manifesto for giving workers and families a break, this is a manifesto for change,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said that the conversation around a united Ireland is happening among nationalists and unionists.<\/p>\n
She said there is no sense in anyone \u201cburying their heads\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis needs to be a respectful conversation and it\u2019s the job of the government in Dublin to shape that conversation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we look to Britain, and lots of us have reflected on the disorder and the chaos which has arisen because of a lack of planning and a fully informed debate on the issue of Brexit, we shouldn\u2019t sleepwalk into a similar scenario.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrexit has accelerated this conversation. It\u2019s reckless not to plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald added: \u201cIt is game on for unification and I think the thoughtful thing, the wise thing to do, is to plan from now.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said it was not a uniquely Sinn F\u00e9in issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe future of the island, the constitutional, political and economic arrangements and welfare on the island, is everybody\u2019s business,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny thoughtful party seeking to be in government, to occupy high office, should recognize that as an objective reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said a five-year timeline is reasonable to get the \u201cspade work done\u201d.<\/p>\n
She added that the call for a referendum by the British Government will only be done when the Irish government is proactively planning for Irish unification.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not the only people asking those questions \u2013 those questions are being asked by individuals and organisations, beyond ourselves.<\/p>\n
“This isn’t a matter of this being a uniquely Sinn F\u00e9in issue, this isn’t simply a Sinn F\u00e9in concern.”<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald added Sinn F\u00e9in was ready to be in government.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are saying the others have had their chance and now Sinn F\u00e9in should have the chance and then of course be judged on the delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the days of majoritarian government were over and that needed to be reflected in more inclusive leaders\u2019 debates.<\/p>\n
The party\u2019s priorities include reducing the term of the office of the president from seven years to five years and making the office subject to Freedom of Information requests.<\/p>\n
Turning to homelessness, the party\u2019s spokesman on housing Eoin O Broin said the party would agree a date to ending long-term homelessness in conjunction with local authorities and the homeless sector.<\/p>\n