Speaking to reporters at the party’s Ard Fheis conference in Athlone, the Sinn Fein leader said: 'We’re election ready, we look forward to the campaign and we’re in it to win it'.
Sinn Fein is “election ready”, Mary Lou McDonald has insisted as she said the party will run more candidates “than ever before”. Ms McDonald said there is a “real sense of positivity and optimism” among the party membership as selection conventions continue across the country.
She said the party would seek to elect a representative in every Irish constituency, adding that it was hoping to win two seats in some electoral areas. However, she cautioned: “We’re not one bit presumptuous or arrogant about this.”READ MORE: Ireland weather: Monster Atlantic storm prompts ominous 12 hour warning from Met Eireann
Asked if she believed this was accurate, Ms McDonald said: “The population has grown – that’s a matter of mathematical fact.” She said this occurred at a time of a pre-existing housing crisis and pressures on “stretched services”. Ms McDonald added that Sinn Fein had set out a revised immigration policy over summer. “Immigration has to be manage with community, fairness and common sense at its heart. That hasn’t been the case. The attempts by the Government to distance themselves from their own failures is very obvious.”
Ms McDonald said governments in Dublin and London “can’t continuously delay and dither”. “The referendums will happen.” However, the NI First Minister reiterated: “The jury’s certainly still out in terms of how will live up to their commitments set out in the Good Friday Agreement, because their actions to date demonstrate more of the same austerity and broken promises.”
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mary Lou McDonald confirms what will be in Sinn Féin's alternative budgetIn an exclusive interview with the Irish Mirror, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald also hinted who she would like to see in power following the US Presidential election
Read more »
Claire Hanna: SDLP’s likely new leader is party’s ‘only hope’ against Sinn Féin dominanceGalway-born MP for South Belfast is in pole position to take over as leader of the nationalist party
Read more »
Sinn Féin To Review Party Structure Amid Concerns Over ActivismSinn Féin is set to review its party structure due to concerns that its success in encouraging members to become active participants has been 'limited'. A motion from the Dundalk branch highlighted the issue, suggesting a 'separate tier' of membership for those who cannot fully commit. The party's ruling body has called for a review of structures, acknowledging that while the current system works well when functioning properly, communication breakdowns can lead to detachment and disengagement.
Read more »
Sinn Féin’s Ardfheis hears concerns over party’s backing of failed family and care referendumsSinn Féin’s ruling body will have to call a special conference to determine party’s position on future referendums after motion passed by delegates
Read more »
Sinn Féin adds former party press officer to its general election ticket in CorkJoe Lynch will run with sitting TD Thomas Gould in Cork North Central, which has gone from a four-seat to a five-seat constituency
Read more »
McDonald: SF candidates were abused by people also ‘cavorting with vicious loyalist elements’ in BelfastLocal elections marked by concerted online effort to ‘come at Sinn Féin’, party leader says
Read more »