Aontú Manifesto Launch Today the 9th of May at 4pm
A final reminder that Aontú will launch our party’s Local Election 2023 Manifesto today at 4pm in the Devenish, 33-37 Finaghy Rd N, Belfast.
Speaking before the event Deputy Tóibín stated;
Political Dysfunction
The North of Ireland is in the middle of a major political and economic crisis. Citizens are being denied democracy. Families are being hammered by the ever-increasing Cost of Living. Hospitals are shedding key life and death services. 1 in 7 people are on hospital waiting lists. 300,000 people are living in poverty, 45,000 people are on housing waiting lists and key public servants are forced to strike for decent pay.
In any other western country this level of hardship and political dysfunction would be met with protests on the streets. But this is not any other western country. This is the only western state where one political party can crash the political institutions, refuse to work and still keep taking their wages. Aontú has written to each of the leaders of the political parties seeking a Public Debate in advance of the election on the issues that are of such importance to people. Only Naomi Long of the Alliance Party has responded to say that she would like to take part.
Political establishment are the cause of dysfunction
How is it acceptable that the Stormont Political Establishment, in the jaws of an Cost of Living Crisis, do not turn up yet take a wage and drastically hike up rates on struggling families. Aontú condemns the increases in the Rates and commits to not increasing rates during the Cost of Living Crisis.
Aontú is a party of Reform
Aontú is the party of reform. Its Aontú that has led the campaign to reform the Executive so it cant be crashed by the DUP, SF or anyone else. Its Aontú that has led the campaign to stop salaries for stay at home MLAs. If an MLA wont do their job, they should not get paid.
Its Aontú that seeks to devolve economic power from London to Belfast. We want self determination for All Ireland. Services are being
Local Authority Campaign
Aontú oppose massive Rates’ hikes. Aontú will not increase Rates during Cost of Living Crisis.
Aontú will campaign for increase central government funding to ensure services can be maintained and increased.
There is an extraordinary lack of accountability at Local Authority level. Some of our councils have racked up astronomical debt with almost no push back from any other political party. Aontú seeks public investigations into these debt mountains.
Aontú Councillors will work with Department of Communities and Housing Associations to ensure increase housing builds, high quality maintenance and repairs and that unacceptable behaviour and anti-social behaviour is not tolerated.
Aontú will use local councils as a platform to end homelessness. We will appoint a homelessness prevention lead in each council and design services to help rehome families. We will use planning powers to ensure new social and genuinely affordable housing gets built where it is needed.
Aontú will use Councils to oppose health and education cutbacks. We will use councils to improve Public spaces, Social Welfare rights and to create Enterprise Zones. We will use Councils to help fix crises in mental health and addiction. We will use Councils to further the United Ireland project, Irish language rights and to prevent the British Legacy Bill.
Ambition
Aontú’s ambition is in sharp contrast to the culture of dependency of the Stormont parties. Only Aontú has the determination to equalise corporation taxes north and south, to draw in international investment, create well paid jobs for our young people so that they can raise their families here in Ireland. This will increase funding for our hospitals, schools, public transport and public services. Only Aontú pushed back against the closure of hospital services. Thousands attended our protests for better health care nationwide.
Unity and Life
Only Aontú is taking the practical steps towards Irish Unity tabling legislation in the Dail to give speaking rights to Northern MPs in the Dáil. Only Aontú has created legislation for a State Commission of Investigation into British Collusion. Seasann Aontú ar son ár dteanga, ár gcúltúr agus ár náisiún. Ní bhíonn bua gan cuidiú. Cuidigh linn Éire a aontú. Aontú is the only Nationalist Party to oppose the imposition of British Abortion legislation for children up until birth if they have a disability. Aontú has the compassion to support the Right to Life of Everyone.
Strong Activist Aontú Team
Gemma Brolly, Chair of the Save Causeway Hospital campaign.
Cllr Emmet Doyle, founder of the Racecourse Medical Services Campaign.
Sharon Loughran, Daisy Hill Campaigner,
Liam Reichenberg, Chair of the Save Mullaghbawn GP Services campaign.
Cllr Denise Mullen, Victims and Survivors campaigner.
Shelia Fullerton Education campaigner.
Noreen McEldowney, Human Rights campaigner.
Liam McElhinney, Disability Rights campaigner.
John Robbin, All Ireland Economy campaigner,
Luke McCann, provides food supports for community.
Daniel Connolly, Chair of Clean Keady.
John Boyle, Accountability campaigner,
Siobhán McErleann Health Care campaigner,
Seán Mac Cearáin, Irish Language campaigner.
Gerard Herman, Community Activist and United Ireland campaigner.
Dáran Mac Meanman, Investment for west of the Bann and A5 road campaigner,
Rosemary McGlone, reduce the Cost of Living campaigner.
Leza Hueston, Balanced spatial development campaigner
Daryll Christy, Workers Rights campaigner.
If you Think Aontú, Vote Aontú
If we want the north to change, we have to change the way we vote. If we continuously vote to keep the other side out, we end up keeping everyone out. Many people think Aontú, but vote for other parties out of habit or misplaced loyalty. Many people still vote for parties who are actually damaging their core values. Thankfully that’s starting to change. A new people powered movement is growing throughout Ireland. People are voting for Aontú to show the Stormont Parties that we have had enough.
In this local election, help end the political dysfunction of the parties of the Stormont Establishment.
Vote Aontú number 1, Vótáil Aontú Umihir a haon.
