A vote for Sinn Fein in the local elections is a vote for an alternative to "cronyism, corruption and laziness", the party's president, Mr Gerry Adams, told a Dublin rally opening the party's local election campaign.
Mr Adams was joined by his fellow Westminster MP Mr Martin McGuinness, Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain TD, Assembly members from the North and Sinn Fein local election candidates in the Republic.
He said the party was putting forward 108 candidates in 22 of the 26 counties, including 31 under the age of 35, and 13 women.
Mr Adams said there was "a complete lack of power afforded to local government authorities throughout the 26 counties".
Sinn Fein wanted local authorities to have more powers, greater control over their finances and the power to raise their own finances. It wanted a direct role for local people and community and special interest groups.
Sinn Fein wanted to tackle the housing crisis by "building homes and halting the profiteering of property developers. We want local government to have greater control over health, education and social services".
He said the party would raise the concerns of many people about the health risks posed by telecommunications masts.
It would "abolish unelected quangoes", change "current inadequate planning procedures", and work to end "corruption in local government".
He admitted some people might see this as "fine words" without the means to achieve these aims. Turning to the party's candidates, he said: "Sinn Fein expects only the highest standards from our representatives. We believe the people are sovereign. So Sinn Fein representatives have to be tribunes of the people."