Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has claimed that his party is ready for Government and represents the only real alternative on offer in the election.
Speaking at the launch of his party's manifesto, the West Belfast MP said Sinn Féin priorities would be a vibrant economy, strong public services and Irish re-unification.
Sinn Féin is proposing a universal free healthcare system, a Housing Minister with cabinet status who would oversee the provision of 70,000 units over the next five years, and the immediate reduction of class sizes to 20 pupils for children under nine.
On pay and taxation, the party wants the minimum wage set at 60% of the average industrial salary, and an end to tax loopholes and exile status for wealthy individuals.
Sinn Féin would also initiate a comprehensive review of the taxation system and focus on non-tax revenue like income from natural resources and royalties from mineral exploration.
Mr Adams said the party's view was that there was sufficient tax currently being raised to eliminate poverty.
He denied that Sinn Féin's change of heart over raising corporation tax earlier this month was opportunistic, insisting it was a coincidence that the party's ruling body had reviewed its policy on the eve of the election.
He said the establishment parties were engaged in what he called 'a scam' in promising better services as well as lower taxes, and maintained that Sinn Féin's presence in government at Stormont was an indication of its readiness for office in the Republic.
Mr Adams also said he would not speculate about which party Sinn Féin might support for government or enter coalition with as those would be matters for its ruling body or Ard Fhéis.
