Adams tells voters to make a stand

SINN Fein president Gerry Adams said it was “time to make a stand” as he urged people to vote for his party tomorrow.

Sinn Féin held their final press conference of the campaign under the James Larkin monument on Dublin’s O’Connell Street, with Mr Adams calling on voters to reject the bigger parties.

“Sinn Féin has made a stand against the bad political choices of the last Government — choices that bankrupted the state, undermined sovereignty and forced ordinary working families to pay the price,” he said.

“Fine Gael and Labour are committed to the same bad choices — billions of taxpayers’ money for toxic banks and cuts for those on low and middle incomes.

“There is a better way. Through job creation, tax reform and eliminating waste, Sinn Féin have shown how the deficit can be reduced over six years.”

He reiterated his call for a referendum on the bank bailout, saying “the people being asked to pay should have their say”.

He also indicated he expects Sinn Féin to be in opposition rather than government after the election.

“Whatever the outcome of this election, the Dáil needs a strong party of opposition.

“Sinn Féin is the only party that will stand up for ordinary citizens.”

But his comments came as former Justice Minister Dermot Ahern asked his fellow Louth constituents to vote for anybody but Mr Adams.

Mr Ahern said he could not forget the damage that IRA violence did to the image and economy of his home town of Dundalk and the wider county.

For this reason, he asked voters to stick with natives of the county and ignore Belfast-born Mr Adams.

“I think it is vitally important the people of Co Louth vote for local candidates and locally-born candidates,” he said.