Election 2024: Six things we learned from the campaign trail today
Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour Party and Aontu election posters on the poles on Merrion Street, Dublin.GardaĂ recently arrested a man following a report of criminal damage to election posters in Co Leitrim. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
The Labour Party wants to spend âŹ7bn of the windfall funds from the Apple tax case on housing. This would include âŹ6bn to set up a State construction company, with an additional âŹ1bn for water infrastructure and servicing of land.
The State construction company would directly employ design teams and construction workers.
Meanwhile, the Green Party would spend half of the âŹ14bn windfall on public transport projects in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Roderic OâGorman said his party would ensure the delivery of large projects including the Cork Luas, the Western Rail Corridor and the Limerick Metropolitan Rail within the lifetime of the next government.
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Sinn FĂ©in leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused Fianna FĂĄil and Fine Gael of treating voters who support her party as "second-class citizens".
When asked about the position taken by the two main parties on refusing to speak to Sinn FĂ©in about forming a coalition after the election, Ms McDonald said: âIf I was to listen to the coalition parties, I wouldnât get up out of bed in the morning.
âThey canât pass a microphone without stating how appalled they are and how they will never, ever, ever speak to Sinn FĂ©in. They were at that in the last election as well.âÂ
She added: âA lot of people vote for Sinn FĂ©in, [and] rely on us to represent them.
âI would ask Fianna FĂĄil and Fine Gael to try and muster at least a little bit of respect for the communities and the voters that vote for us.â
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has warned farmers against voting for Independents, saying that the three-way coalition with the Greens was required due to Fine Gael losing seats to independent TDs in 2020.
âI would respectfully say to farmers that the best way to ensure that they strengthen the voice of Fine Gael in the next government is not to vote for independents because actually, thatâs the situation that resulted in my party and perhaps other parties losing seats in the last election and then needing a three-way coalition,â Mr Harris told an IFA hustings event.
âItâs up to farmers here. Itâs not up to me. I have one vote like everybody else.â On the campaign trail, the Taoiseach also told voters that he had visited 17 different counties since the DĂĄil was dissolved last Friday.
GardaĂ arrested a man following a report of criminal damage to election posters in Co Leitrim.
The man, in his 50s, was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and subsequently charged to appear before Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Tuesday.
It is among a spate of separate acts of vandalism of election posters across the country, including in Cork, Tipperary and Waterford.
AontĂș launched its immigration manifesto, pledging a strict policy that will speedily address applications.Â
Party leader Peadar TĂłibĂn said: "People are people are deeply unhappy with the chaotic nature of this government's immigration policy."
Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash called out RTĂâs failure to host televised debates on climate change.
He has urged the broadcaster to rethink its approach and ensure that climate issues are debated thoroughly during the general election.
âOur national broadcaster should be giving the climate crisis the attention it demands. People deserve to know what each party plans to do to stem this people crisis, and to see climate deniers and the purveyors of simple solutions in the DĂĄil held to scrutiny."
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