Is mór an onóir dom a bheith anseo inniu.

Le bheith timpeall cairde agus comrádaithe,

A amharc ar seanchairde

Agus a amharc ar aghaidheanna nua.

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh gach ball nua.

Níl aon dabht orm ach go mbuailfidh sibh le chéile le chuid de na gníomhaithe Shinn Féin is tiomnaithe agus foghlaim uathu.

Daoine a chreideann go láidir fá dtaobh den athrú.

Agus in am, déanfaidh tú do chion féin ar son na gluaiseacht

Níl aon ról ró-mhór nó ró-bheag

Tá achan duine ag teastáil.

Tá olltoghchán beagnach linn

Níl’s ugaínn cén uair a thiocfaidh an toghchán.

Más é sin Deireadh Fómhair, Samhain nó go luath an bhliain seo chugainn.

Tá’s ugaínn cad é atá ag teacht agus is féidir linn athrú a bhaint amach.

Tá freagracht ollmhór orainn.

Tá freagracht orainn dóchas a thabhairt do dhaoine.

It is a privilege to be here today.

To be surrounded by friends and comrades,

To see so many familiar faces

To see so many new faces.

I would like to welcome all new members.

I have no doubt you will meet and learn from some of the most dedicated party activists, people
passionate about change.

And in time make your own contribution.

There is no part too great or too small.

This is a great country.

But something has gone terribly wrong –

When we have a government that is awash with resources but completely fails to deliver on the basic needs and services of the nation.

Affordable homes.

A&E where you are seen and safe.

Assessments of need and therapies for Children with additional needs.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are incapable of delivering these things – even when they have the resources.

And that’s the choice at the next election.

Sinn Féin or Fine Gael.

It’s your choice.

Who do you want to lead government?

Do you want change or more of the same?

Do you want a party with a housing plan that brings homeownership back within reach of ordinary people or do you want another generation stuck in their childhood bedrooms in their thirties or an a flight to Australia?

Do you want fairness for Communities or sweetheart deals for vulture funds and friends of the government?

Do you want millions of the money you pay in taxes wasted on bike sheds, security huts, taxbreaks for the wealthiest and in overspends on the most expensive hospital in the world or do you want accountability so that your money is spent delivering the services and infrastructure that you and your community needs?

Housing

Sinn Féin has a plan to make housing affordable for working people.

We are ready to start delivering on this from day 1 in government.

We know what it’s like the struggle to secure housing, to be on a housing waiting list, to not have a home of your own.

And how it can be life changing to secure that home.

A home is not just a roof over your head.

Sinn Féin will move heaven and earth to make housing affordable.

And deliver 300,000 homes over the next five years.

A chairde, we have the plan, the determination and will to hit the ground running if given the chance.

Let me be clear.

Sinn Féin in government will end the housing crisis.

We will stand up for renters.

The days of runaway rents are over.

That’s the Fine Gael way. That’s the Fianna Fáil way.

We will put one month rent into renters’ pockets and ban rent increases for three years.

Because renters deserve a government that’s on their side.

Thousands of families are seeing their homes crumble before their very eyes.

Casualties of the Fianna Fail era of light-touch regulation.

A Sinn Féin government will end their nightmare.

We will deliver 100 percent redress to families who have to rebuild their homes due to defective blocks.

We tackle dereliction in our cities and towns.

That is the scale of ambition that is needed.

Family

Delivering affordable housing is only one way we will support you and your family.

Sinn Féin promises to support families every step of the way.

Key to supporting families is affordable childcare.

Sinn Féin will give all parents access to childcare at €10 a day per child.

Our €10 a day guarantee will be delivered next year.

This will be a game-changer for families.

We will roll it out to all childminders.

I want to make it clear to all families –

And anyone thinking of starting a family.

Sinn Féin will make raising a family affordable.

USC

We know that the cost-of-living crisis is not over.

If I am Finance minister I will unashamedly stand up for workers and families.

Sinn Féin in government will abolish the USC for the average worker.

No worker will pay USC on the first €45,000 they earn.

All workers will all feel the benefit of this measure.

Fine Gael TDs are upset that Sinn Féin want to tax private jets –

That we would ask the wealthiest in society to pay a bit more.

That is who Fine Gael are.

That is what they stand for.

That’s why they sided over and over with the vulture funds why they side with the landlord over renters, –
why they have given tax breaks to the wealthiest –

why they have failed to invest in your communities.

If I am Finance Minister I will provide €1bn community investment fund –

for working class communities left behind by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

I will invest in the all-Ireland economy and preparations for Irish unity.

And, I will never stand over the shameful waste we have seen from this government.

Fine Gael waste taxpayers’ money on bike sheds, security huts,

They overspend on the most expensive hospital in the world.

People are demanding accountability.

Sinn Féin is the alternative.

Together we can build a better future.

I know it has been a tough year for many of our activists on the ground.

We have listened to our voters and members.

Sinn Féin will move forward with determination.

With our positive message of hope and change.

Whether it is our housing policy.

Our drive for a united Ireland.

Or our unwavering support for Palestine.

In the next few weeks or months.

We have a massive opportunity.

To put Fine Gael and Fianna Fail out of government.

There was always going to be push back.

There are powerful forces that support the status quo.

This was never going to be easy.

But take heart in the challenging times.

The closer we get; the harder it gets.

So the harder things are; the closer we are.

This is when we are at our best.

I am looking forward to the election campaign.

Because I know they are underestimating the power of our movement.

Sinn Féin are offering a real alternative.

A positive vision for the future.

A chairde, let’s go out and win that future.