Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Are you registered to Vote

Published: 22 April, 2009

SinnFeinBuncranaTownCouncil candidate Ciaran McGuinness has urged young people to make sure they are registered to vote and have their voices heard

Ciaran McGuinness said:

"that young people in Buncrana and throughout Inishowen are particularly annoyed by the recent emergency budget that promised so much but failed to deliver and accused the government of targeting young people because the government seen them as easy targets and a soft touch and called on younger people to make sure that they were registered to vote and to make their feelings heard in the forthcoming local elections".

"young people are upset by the way that the emergency budget on 7th April targeted them to pay for the disastrous policies which allowed a poor government, speculators and bankers devastate the economy. This budget contained no measures to maintain existing employment or stimulate new employment. It contained totally inadequate training incentives that would deprive those under 20 years of age of half of their job seekers allowance, put young parents in the position of being unable to afford proper childcare. The reduction of the rent allowance, the removal of the Christmas bonus and the curtailment of the mortgage relief for young people on the property ladder could also have serious implications to many young people.

These harsh measures come against a background of other charges largely affecting young people including a massive increase in third level fees and an increase in the cost of the driving test".

Ciaran added:

"The local elections provide young people with the chance to participate in local democracy and to send a message to the government parties that enough is enough"

He concluded:

"Young people have a major role to play in this island and for many this will be their first experience of democratic participation. It is our young people who will suffer this recession most as they begin to look for careers only to find that they are extremely hard to come by and it is our young people who will lead us into the future and hopefully take us out of the crisis that our current politicians have landed us in"

"over the next few weeks our task is to convince those between the ages of 18 and 25 that there vote does matter, therefore I am urging all young people to make sure they are on the electoral register so that they can make their feelings heard in the upcoming local elections. For those who are not registered I would remind them it is not too late and that the closing date for inclusion on to the supplementary register is 15th May. Registration forms are available from Donegal County Council; alternatively they can call in to the Sinn Fein Inis Eoghain constituency office at West End Buncrana.

ENDS