Manifesto launch:Sinn Féin drew a clear line yesterday between itself and most of the other main parties on personal tax rates. Speaking in Dublin at the launch of the party's election manifesto, Gerry Adams accused other parties of perpetrating a "scam" by pledging tax cuts along with more support for public services at the same time.
Sinn Féin is giving no guidance to voters on transfers to other parties in the election. On the issue of coalition, Mr Adams said the party wanted to be in government but was not seeking power just for the sake of it.
Among the main parties, Fianna Fáil, the Fine Gael-Labour alliance and the Progressive Democrats are all committed to cuts in personal tax rates, leaving only Sinn Féin and the Greens opposed to such a move.
Mr Adams accused Sinn Féin's opponents of acting in bad faith: "The main establishment parties are involved in a scam. They are telling the electorate that they are going to bring in tax cuts; at the same time . . . that they are going to put more money into public services."
He said this would not work out in practice: "You can't on the one hand take money out of the economy and then promise to put more money into public services."
Echoing this approach, Cavan-Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said: "If we look at the programme each of the other establishment parties are offering over the projected term of the next government, they are promising, at different levels of zillions, less take in terms of taxation. We don't agree with that, we want to see that money channelled into the provision of quality public services and supports right across the board."
Mr Adams pointed out that Sinn Féin was now in government in the North, "and we're ready for government in the South. We are seeking a mandate for government here."
Questioned about a declaration by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen that Fianna Fáil would not enter into coalition talks with Sinn Féin because of the latter's "hard left" economic policies, Mr Adams replied: "I don't believe Brian. I know him quite well and he is a very colourful and very, very able politician and his job is to get the biggest possible Fianna Fáil vote. So fair play to him and good luck to him."
Stressing that Sinn Féin was not seeking power at any price he said: "We are not interested in being in government for the sake of it, we don't want to see Sinn Féin bums on ministerial seats just for the craic."
He said Sinn Féin was giving no guidance to voters on the issue of transfers. "We are not advising people," he said.
"Some candidates may or may not make local arrangements. We are, however, asking people, if for some incomprehensible reason they want to vote for some other party, that they would then transfer to us after that."
