Education Minister Launches Sinn Féin Youth Manifesto 2010

down | politics / elections | press release

Tuesday April 27, 2010 15:49

by Irish Republican Youth - Ógra Shinn Féin

Education Minister Caitríona Ruane joined a large group of Ógra Shinn Féin members today at Down’s County Museum in Downpatrick, to launch Sinn Féin’s Youth Manifesto ‘Creating the Future’, for the upcoming Westminster election.

The Museum was selected as a site of historical significance, it previously being home of the County Gaol where United Irishmen leader Thomas Russell was executed on 21 October 1803.

The youth manifesto which was drafted by members of the party’s youth wing Ógra Shinn Féin forms the basis of the work and policies which Sinn Féin will be carrying out regards youth in the next 5 years.

These include education, suicide prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, calling for the abolition of ASBO’s, road safety, youth job creation, creating affordable housing, and progressing Irish Unity.

The Sinn Féin Youth Manifesto for the upcoming election can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.osf.ie/home/index.php?option=com_content&vie...id=33

Following the launch, the large group of republican youth activists, carried out an intensive and upbeat youth canvass of Downpatrick town centre and the neighbouring village of Ardglass.

Speaking on the launch of the youth manifesto, National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin, Donnchadh O’Laoghaire said,

“Young people have a lot to offer in building a new and free society in Ireland, the youth manifesto is an amalgamation of policies and debates thrashed out by hundreds of young people in Ógra Shinn Féin over the past year. These well thought out and grounded proposals in the youth manifesto are drafted by young people, and for young people, particularly those most in need.”

“Young people are the future of this country, and it will ultimately be them who will shape the nation and ensure it reaches it true potential. We believe it is vitally important that young people have their say, particularly at election time and that is why we launched the youth manifesto. Sinn Féin is a party genuinely interested in working for young people and representing their needs, we are a party of youth. The main theme of the manifesto is one of empowerment ‘Creating the Future’, and we ask you to join with us in creating a better future for all of us, on May 6th, Vótáil Sinn Féin.”