The Workers' Party yesterday called on the people of Northern Ireland to put a radical left voice in the Assembly which would focus on the vital issues affecting ordinary people.
In the new Assembly the party would establish an "anti-sectarian forum and introduce financial incentives for those wishing to live in an integrated area".
Introducing the party's manifesto, its president, Mr Tom French, said issues such as industrial struggles, unemployment and the quality of the environment must be kept at the forefront.
The party supported the introduction of a bill of rights which would act as a guarantor of the civil liberties of all citizens and of the political groups, parties and individuals prepared to work within the democratic process. This would be fundamental to the success of new institutions of government in Northern Ireland.
On cross-Border bodies, the party said these would need time, effort and resources to make effective. The Women's Coalition, which has eight candidates in the Assembly election, yesterday welcomed the publication of the SDLP's first Women's Manifesto. However, Ms Kate Fearon, who is standing in Newry and Armagh, said when it came to nominating women, the record of most political parties showed there was a long way to go.
Women account for 16 per cent of the SDLP's candidates, 24 per cent in Sinn Fein and 12 per cent in the Democratic Unionist Party. The UUP has four women out of 58 candidates.
Mr Peter Weir, Ulster Unionist candidate for North Down, said his constituency should get its fair share of new jobs. Although often portrayed as an area of affluence, it contained pockets of high unemployment and had not received its fair share of investment.
The UK Unionist Party candidate for East Belfast, Mr Denny Vitty, meanwhile called on the electorate to carefully examine the position of the Ulster Unionists in the constituency over the issue of prisoner release and the handing over of weapons.