Toibín calls for leaders' debate as he launches Aontú manifesto for Northern elections
Peadar Toibín's Aontú party is this evening launching its manifesto for the North of Ireland Local Elections 2023.
“Aontú will field our largest candidate team ever in the North of Ireland," the Meath West TD and party leader stated.
"I am extremely proud of the quality of these candidates. These are articulate and able men and women from all walks of life, who have shown massive dedication to their communities. Aontú is contesting these elections to win council seats across the North of Ireland. We do so from a much stronger position in terms of quality candidates, public support, and strength of grass roots organisation”.
He added: “This election takes place in the middle of a major political and economic crisis. Families are being hammered by the ever-increasing cost of living. Sustained high inflation is doing untold damage to the very fabric of families and communities. Public services are shedding key health and education services and the North is looking down the barrel of an austerity budget from the British Government”.
The former Sinn Féin TD continued: “Shockingly the only political action we have had from the five Stormont parties since the Stormont Elections is for Sinn Féin, the DUP, the SDLP, the UUP and the Alliance to hike up rates council bills for families. This is a punch in the stomach to families who are struggling on overdrafts, credit cards or in the clutches of money lenders. How is it acceptable that in the jaws of a cost of living crisis, the Stormont political establishment do not turn up for work, yet take a wage and at council drastically hike up rates on struggling families”.
“In the midst of all of this there has been an incredible lack of political debate, political vision and accountability from the leadership of all the political parties. Aontú has written to all of the leaders of the political parties inviting them to a public debate on the life and death issues affecting the people. Alliance Leader Naomi Long has responded and stated that she would endeavour to participate in a public leaders’ debate. We urge all the remaining leaders to step up and make themselves available to debate the future of the North of Ireland”.