Campaign News

In a final message to voters today Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness said there is a real choice in the election. It was one between himself as the only non-establishment candidiate who can win and candidates from a political establishment who bankrupted the country and are now, through the imposition of austerity measures making ordinary people pay for it.

He urged people to vote for change and a New Republic.

Martin McGuinness said: “When I embarked on this journey over a month ago it was because I was inspired by ordinary people to make a stand. I am inspired by the people who played no part in bankrupting this country but who are being forced to pick up the tab for the bankers, the developers and the political elite.

“I have spent the last four weeks visiting everyone of Ireland’s 32 counties. I have stood with parents heartbroken by the emigration of their children, with hospital campaigners, with people being denied the right to cut turf on their own bogs, with parents being denied Special Needs Assistants and with families up and down the country struggling to make ends meet in the face of unemployment and crippling mortgage payments.

“The people who brought this situation about, who sold our sovereignty and destroyed our economy are not patriots. This week I met with the descendants of the leaders of the 1916 Rising. They represent what real Irish patriotism is about. Patriotism is about your country and your people. It is not about yourself. I believe in the Proclamation of 1916 and I believe in its implementation and in particular not paying lip service to cherishing all of the children of the nation equally.

“Ireland needs a new beginning. Thursday’s election can be the start of the renewal of this great nation. Change is possible in Ireland. But it will only come about if people come out on Thursday and vote for a new type of politics.

“There is a real choice in this election. It is a choice between myself as the only non-establishment candidiate who can win and those candidates from a political establishment who bankrupted the country and are now, through the imposition of austerity measures making ordinary people pay for it.

“Ireland needs a new beginning. I would urge people to vote for change, for a better and fairer way forward for Ireland and its people, for a New Republic.”

Presidential Candidate Martin McGuinness has been canvassing on Aranmore island, off the Donegal coast, (Sunday 23rd) in advance of Thursday’s election.

Martin McGuinness said that the Irish people have a very clear choice to make between candidates standing for parties who wrecked the economy and are now making the people pay through huge cuts and myself as the only candidate who is not part of the political establishment and who will stand up for people.”

Mr McGuinness said: “On Thursday the Irish people have a very clear choice in front of them. If they want a President who will stand with the ordinary people of Ireland, a President who has a track record in creating jobs, a President who is not part of a bankrupt political establishment then they will vote for me on Thursday.

“The Irish people don’t want a return to Galway tent politics or a continuation of policies where speculators and bankers are protected and ordinary people punished.

“I would call on people to make a stand on Thursday. Things can change. This week’s election can be the start of a new beginning for Ireland. I will be a President that stands for jobs, fairness and decency. That is what I am asking the people of Ireland to vote for on Thursday.”

Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness canvassing in Ballymun this afternoon said, “A vote in the Presidential election for either of the government parties will give them a comfort blanket to continue with cuts aimed at working families and those on the lowest incomes. I will be an outspoken President. I will push the boundaries of the Office to their fullest and stand with the people and local communities."

Martin McGuinness said: “I will be an outspoken President. I will push the boundaries of the Office to their fullest with a clear mandate from the people.

“We are facing into one of the harshest budgets every seen and Fine Gael and the Labour Party have made it clear that they intend to continue with the policies of the last government with huge austerity aimed at working families, those on the lowest incomes and frontline health and education services. And they will continue to pour billions of tax-payers money into bailing out banks and for bondholders.

“A vote in the Presidential election for either of the government parties will give them a comfort blanket to continue with more cuts and to hand away even more power to the EU. It is obvious that the priority of the Labour and Fine Gael candidates would be to support the government no matter what they do.

“As President my priority is to face up to the government and stand by the people.”

Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness is canvassing in Dublin today.  Before setting out he said, “This election represents a choice between the establishment parties and someone like me who stands with the people."

Mr. McGuinness said: “There is a choice in this election. It is a choice between the establishment parties and someone like me who stands with the people. The fact is that Sean Gallagher’s party wrecked the economy and Michael D. Higgins party are now making the people of Ireland pay for it. These parties are responsible for crushing austerity, emigration and unemployment. I would challenge both candidates to set out clearly their views on the austerity and the IMF/EU bailout deal.

“These parties tell us that there is no money for hospitals but any amount of money for banks and bondholders, no money for special needs teachers but plenty for huge pensions for disgraced bankers, politicians and civil servants. To them the idea of equality, citizenship and patriotism mean nothing.

“I stand for a real Republic where the rights of citizens come first – the right to healthcare, housing, employment and social services. In the Ireland of 2011 we still do not have such a Republic. The people can change that.

“People shouldn’t be disillusioned. Things can change. Now is the time for Ireland. Now is the time for people to come together. My commitment is to be a Peoples President and I am asking people to vote for real change to vote for someone who stand for jobs, fairness and decency.” ENDS

Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness today (October 21) met with relatives of the 1916 leaders and the Save Moore St. Campaign. He praised the efforts of those families involved in the Moore Street campaign and extended them his support.

Mr. McGuinness said “The Proclamation sets the standard by which modern Ireland must be judged. I believe we must stand up to those who have destroyed this country and to whom the idea of equality, citizenship and patriotism mean nothing. My priority is to see re-unification through reconciliation and to see the promise of the Proclamation delivered.”

Martin McGuinness said: “I am not a rhetorical republican. I believe in a real Republic where citizens have rights and the phrase cherishing all of the children of the nation equally means something. I believe that the Proclamation sets the standard by which modern Ireland must be judged. The Proclamation contains a promise to every Irish citizen that she and he can share in the dignity of human kind, as equals with equal opportunity - that we can enjoy freedom, educate our children, provide for our families, and not be exploited by our neighbours.

“The Ireland we have today does not live up to it’s promise. “Citizens have been silenced and robbed by greedy bankers and speculators who used the people and the country’s resources for their own selfish ends. They are being let down by politicians who tell us that there is no money for hospitals but any amount of money for banks and bondholders, no money for special needs teachers but plenty for huge pensions for disgraced bankers, politicians and civil servants. To them, the idea of equality, citizenship and patriotism mean nothing.

“The people can change that. “Huge changes have happened and we can make an incredible step forward as a nation. I would be very proud to be a republican in Áras an Uachtaráin for the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. My priority is to see re-unification through reconciliation and to see the promise of the Proclamation delivered.

“The decade before us is one filled with historic and significant commemorative dates, all marking 100 years, from the signing of the Ulster Covenant, through to the 1913 Lockout to the Easter Rising of 1916, the General election of 1918 and more.

“If elected President I intend to use the next ten years from 2012 as a Decade of Reconciliation. This would celebrate the diverse nature of our society, the peace we now have and commemorate all of the events of 100 years ago which defined the direction of Ireland to the present generation.”ENDS

Mr. O’Dowd said: “I’m Niall O’Dowd, founder of Irish America magazine, Irish Voice newspaper and irishcentral.com website and I’d like to endorse Martin McGuinness for President of Ireland.

“Martin has always been a great champion of the Irish abroad and here in America we particularly respect his work on behalf of the Irish undocumented, a message that he has taken into the very Oval Office where he has spoken with President Bush, President Obama and President Clinton about the plight of the young Irish who leave Ireland in their thousands every year and come and live here in the United States illegally.

“Martin has always been a great champion of the Irish undocumented and we are delighted that he is raising his voice on their behalf in this election.

“Also on the issue of the peace process Martin was an indispensible force in creating peace, in getting to work together with President Bill Clinton, working with President Bush, and now with President Obama. His role as deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland has meant that Martin has been at the very forefront of the battle to continue the success of the peace process. And there is no question in our minds here in Irish America that without Martin McGuinness there would simply not be an Irish peace process.

“On the issue of job creation, Martin has already proven the fact that he can bring jobs to Northern Ireland and I believe that if elected President he can also do so in the Irish Republic.

“Martin is an extraordinary individual and will go down in history as one of the great arbiters of the Irish peace process and a man who has spoken out on behalf of the Irish wherever they are in the world

“For those reasons and many others I believe Martin would make a great President for Ireland.” ENDS

Tomorrow night’s rally in Dundalk can be viewed live online at the links below.

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Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness has called for votes for the Irish abroad and said the diaspora will be central to his presidency.

Speaking in Kerry this evening (Wednesday 19th) and addressing himself directly to the Irish diaspora Mr McGuinness said: “Irish citizens whether you live in Kerry, Derry, or Boston should have a vote to elect the president of the Irish nation. Recently, Latvian emigrants to this country were able to vote in the Latvian elections. This should not be beyond the ability of a modern state such as this to organize. So why has no Irish government yet seen fit to do so for Irish emigrants abroad?

“As your president I will make a contract with all of you. This will be known as 'Cairt an Uachtaráin –The President’s Charter'. It will set out the vision I have for the presidency and how it will be used to include and help every Irish citizen no matter where they are in the world.

“It will include the appointment of a Presidential Diaspora Advocates Commission. Diaspora advocates will be appointed from the grassroots global Irish community in each centre of population and representative of your needs. The commission will advise the president on the diaspora. I will appoint a representative of the diaspora to the Council of State to advise on broader domestic matters at home. You will have direct access to me as president.

“I want to continue the important work of the GAA Social Initiative founded by President McAleese. This is focused on re-engaging older citizens back into community life through the important role that the GAA plays in our rural communities. If elected President I will continue to work with President McAleese in continuing this initiative.

“It will give me the greatest pleasure as president to salute those of you who bring honour and distinction to the Irish nation. I will recognise these contributions of the Irish abroad through an annual celebration to mark the achievements of the Irish diaspora.”

Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness speaking in Baile Bhuirne, Cork this morning said: “During the campaign a number of the establishment party candidates have pledged to use the presidency to create jobs, despite their parties - Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour - presiding over ever increasing dole queues and mass emigration. I have laid out for the people my record in job creation and the work I would envisage undertaking as president in order to bring jobs to Ireland and support Irish industry at home. Others should do the same.”

Mr McGuinness said: "People are suffering, they need hope, they need jobs. I will be a jobs president. I have a wealth of experience of creating jobs. I have met with world business leaders, and Irish business leaders. I've brought in investment and I've improved the home climate for job creation. I have brought thousands of jobs to the north of this island from companies such as The New York Stock Exchange, Citi, Allstate, Microsoft; Fujitsu and Seagate Technology.

"The Irish people need someone with that background. Other people talk about what they think they can do. I talk about what I have done and what I know I can do. I want what is best for people. I will work with the government to use my influence and my reputation across the world to bring jobs here to Ireland.

“People need to know that their leaders - that their president - is working to make the economy sustainable and efficient, not an environment where business people can make a quick buck and take gambles with their company that means all their workers lose their jobs.

“Good business leaders know that Ireland can recover, know that it must be a new type of economy and they know me. I will work with those business leaders as president.

“In the past few weeks campaigning a number of the establishment party candidates have pledged to use the presidency to create jobs, despite the fact that the parties with which they are associated - Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour have presided over ever-increasing dole queues and mass emigration.

“The unemployed and those facing emigration do not need more empty promises. What they need is jobs and a plan to get them. I have laid out for the people my record in job creation and the work I would envisage undertaking as president in order to bring jobs to Ireland and support Irish industry at home. Others should do the same. ” ENDS

Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness has said that Michael D Higgins, Gay Mitchell and Seán Gallagher are all linked to parties, or are supported by parties, who put the interests of banks and bankers before the interests of citizens.

Speaking at a rally in Tullamore, County Offaly (Monday 17th) Mr McGuinness said:

“This election offers voters a choice between sending to the Áras a representative of the political establishment or someone who stands first and foremost for the interests of ordinary citizens.

“Michael D Higgins, Gay Mitchell and Seán Gallagher represent are all linked to parties, or are supported by parties, who put the interests of banks and bankers before the interests of citizens.

“This election is a choice between those who represent the failed approach of the past or someone who advocates a better, fairer way forward for Ireland. I believe that I can offer that better way.”

The People's President campaign has been on a whistle stop tour of the sunny south East. It all kicked off in Bray county Wicklow yesterday morning before stopping off in Rathnew, Arklow and Wicklow town before crossing the county boundary into Wexford. There we stopped off in Bridgetown, Gorey and Wexford town before arriving for a rally in Ferns.

A packed hall was there to welcome the People’s President tour including local health campaigners and Senator David Cullinane.

Martin McGuinness spoke passionately about his desire to lead the Irish Nation at this time in our history.

This morning we started in Waterford before travelling onto Carlow and Kilkenny. In Kilkenny Martin was met by all-Ireland hurling stars Ritchie Power and James McGarry.

Today finished with a speech to the National Youth Summit in Dublin.