Mayo's Aontú TD sets out red lines for government talks along with party leader
Aontú's TDs will hold a press conference today at 4pm outside Leinster House on Kildare Street to set about their demands for potential government formation talks.
Both Deputy Lawless and Deputy Tóibín will be signing on the register at 4.30 p.m. today.
Speaking today, party leader Deputy Peadar Tóibín said: "This is an historic day for Aontú. It is a great honour and privilege to welcome Aontú TD Paul Lawless to Leinster House today, I have no doubt that he will make a significant impact on politics over the next five years and beyond.
We are starting this new Dáil term with the largest increase in vote of any party since the last election. We will use this increased mandate to ensure commonsense is at the heart of the political debate in this country”.
“Before the election Aontú stated clearly that we would be open to formation talks with anyone except the Green Party or Fine Gael, this remains our position. I have in recent days reached out to various other groups, including Fianna Fáil to seek engagement with them.
Aontú are looking for a commitment in the PFG to build at least 15,000 social and affordable homes for each year of this government's term. In terms of government waste and accountability Aontú wants to see Ministers and senior civil servants lose their jobs in instances of massive cost overruns on capital projects.
In terms of the health service Aontú want to see provision made to ensure that Hospitals are funded on the basis of the number of patients they treat. We want 3,500 new nurses employed each year and a recruitment freeze put on HSE management, to ensure money and resources actually gets to the frontlines".
“Infrastructure is also key for Aontú. We will push for the Western Rail Corridor and the Navan to Dublin rail line to be reopened asap. We also want commitment to reopen an A&E in the Midwest and end all efforts to close any further A&Es such as Navan A&E".
Aontú's newest TD, Paul Lawless from Mayo stated his desires, "We really want to see something in the programme for government which will address the crisis we have in terms of youth emigration.
We want to see a €10,000 tax credit for specific workers, including construction workers and nurses, spread over 3 years. The worker would have to remain within the Irish state working in the sector for 4 years after moving home. This would entice young people back to Ireland.
More locally I want to see safer staffing levels in Mayo University Hospital, I want to see the N17 from Knock to Collooney upgraded to a Motorway”.
“What we will not tolerate is protracted government formation talks. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are two sides of the same political coin and the independents that they are negotiating with are by and large from the same gene pool. It does not make sense for government formation talks to meander on beyond Christmas. The housing and cost of living crisis are far too serious for never ending talks”.