The Socialist Party is the only party in Ireland which fights for the interests of working class people against cuts, privatisation and falling living standards. We are committed to a socialist society where all those who produce the wealth in society should be in control of how it is spent.

None of the existing Dáil parties represent the interests of working class people. They are a cosy club of careerists in the pockets of big business and the wealthy.

That is why a new party, standing for a new and different type of politics, to represent ordinary people, is necessary.

The Socialist Party is just that: real socialists, real campaigners on behalf of workers, the unemployed, for women's rights and young people.

The Socialist Party stands for a truly secular, democratic and socialist society. The most undemocratic feature of our society, and the main barrier to achieving equal rights, justice and a dignified standard of living for all, is the dictatorship of the bosses and the capitalist market.

The Socialist Party stands for taking economic power out of the hands of the bankers, speculators and wealthy industrialists and transferring it to those who do the work and create the wealth: working class people.

The Socialist Party stands for public ownership and democratic socialist planning of the key areas of economic activity.

The Socialist Party will not be for sale to the highest bidder. We do not expect businessmen to make donations to our party, but if they tried, we would not accept their bribes. It is impossible for a party to represent the interests of profit and the interests of workers at the same time.

The Socialist Party regards its independence from big business as a matter of principle.

“I hereby pledge that, if elected as a Socialist Party TD, I will accept only the wage of an average worker. I will donate the balance of my salary to be used to assist in building the Socialist Party and other campaign groups fighting on behalf of ordinary working people.”

Now that these elections are over, the TDs in the other parties will move to vote through a 30% wage increase for themselves. They are already paid more than twice the average worker's wage of €20,000 a year. Many working people don't even earn anything approaching that figure.

The Socialist Party believes that it is not possible for TDs, and indeed Trade Union leaders, to stay in touch with, and understand the problems of those they represent if they are earning two or three times the wages of ordinary people.