Sinn Fein councillor and party candidate in Dublin South West has challenged Labour candidates to admit moving onto Sinn Fein’s policies in their launch today.

Crowe said that, “For months Labour and party leader Eamon Gilmore have sat on the fence not clearly explaining their policy platform to the Irish voters. They opposed the budget but enabled the Finance Bill with its harsh measures on tax hikes on the low and middle income workers go ahead while also supporting the four year austerity plan agreed with the EU and the IMF.”

“Just two weeks ago Eamon Gilmore said that he would not consider coalition with Sinn Fein because of the party’s policies”.

“Now with just days to go to the election, on 25^th February, the Labour have shifted towards Sinn Fein’s fairer and more innovative policy position. Suddenly Labour want a just tax system and an end to the two tier health system. They also now want to renegotiate the IMF deal and have a six year plan, rather than four years of cuts, which have been the Sinn Fein position since the bail out details first became public.”

Labour has also raided Sinn Fein’s pre-budget submission where the party only proposed increased taxes for high wage earners taking home over €100,000. Today this has suddenly become Labour Party policy”.

I challenge Labour to outline their plans in Dublin for an end to the two tier health system and in particular to make clear how they will protect the level of services and staffing in Tallaght Hospital, the cornerstone of the public health service in South Dublin”.