Solidarity People Before Profit today are meeting with Sinn Fein in Leinster House about the possibility of the formation of a government of the left following the political earthquake that was general election 2020.
Richard Boyd Barrett TD, Mick Barry TD and Paul Murphy TD comprised the negotiation team.
Richard Boyd Barrett TD said: “We will tell SF that we are willing to vote for Mary Lou Mc Donald, on the condition that our support is used to attempt to assemble a left minority government, and not to facilitate a return to power of either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.
“The clear demand of a majority of people is to break from the failed policies of FG and FF and to deliver real solutions like public and affordable housing, a quality single tier health service, an affordable cost of living for working families and radical climate action.
“We also believe a clear call needs to go out to other left parties and independents on the left to join this effort to create an alternative to FF and FG that will really deliver a better, fairer and more sustainable future for all.”
Mick Barry TD said: “A genuinely Left Government will need to introduce Left policies such as building 100,000 social and affordable homes within 3 years; introducing a National Health Service bill as an immediate goal and increasing the National Minimum Wage to €15 an hour this year. These necessities can never be delivered in any Government containing Fianna Fáil and/or Fine Gael and so we call on Sinn Fein to rule out categorically any such coalition, which unfortunately they haven’t yet done. In the election people rejected the notion there is a real recovery for ordinary people or any equity in our economy. There needs to be fundamental change from a rigged economy run by corporations and the wealthy to an economy run by working people for working people and providing for the needs of all our people.”
Paul Murphy TD said: “An alternative to government involving the traditional establishment parties of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael is possible. Sinn Finn should seek to lead an alternative minority government. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have shouted about the left winning the election and it therefore being up to Sinn Fein and others to form a government. If they are serious, they should stand aside in the vote for Taoiseach and allow a SF-led government to be formed. That government could immediately introduce radical reforms to improve people’s lives- returning the pension age to 65, increasing the minimum wage and introducing a rent freeze.
“Backed up by people power movements in favour of these changes, it would defy FF or FG to block these popular reforms. If the establishment parties did so, the result would be a new election, where a decisive majority could be returned for a break with FF and FG rule.”
