Mary Lou McDonald: General election a 'big talking point' in Cork

SINN Féin has set its sights on an improved performance in this year’s local elections, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald “hopeful” of a positive outcome for the party in June.

Ms McDonald made the comments during a visit to Cork on Wednesday to fulfil a number of engagements and to campaign with Sinn Féin candidates in the local elections.

“Last time out we had a very hard day in the last local elections, so this time out we’re running very strong slates of candidates. The campaigns are up and running,” she told The Echo.

“Our candidates’ pledge is to work really hard for the communities that they’re seeking a mandate from, to stand up for people, to do our very, very best for people.

“So yes, I’m hopeful [of a positive outcome for the party].”

Ms McDonald said she believes there is also an appetite for an early general election following the resignation of Leo Varadkar. “Obviously canvassing in the local elections, it’s local issues that are featuring,” she said.

“European elections, it’s wider issues, but I would say the big talking point in Cork has been the need for a general election.

“The idea that we now have a third taoiseach in four years is just not a credible position.

“If Simon Harris wants to be Taoiseach he should go and get the mandate for that and the people at this stage need to have their say and make their democratic call.”

Speaking in recent days, newly appointed Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said he believes the Coalition should see out its full term in Government.

“I am planning for this Government, should I be lucky enough to form one and to become taoiseach, I would like to see this Government run full term,” he said.

If the Coalition of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party runs its full term in Government, an election must be held by March 22 next year.

Ms McDonald said, if given the opportunity to step into power after the next general election, progress on housing would be Sinn Féin’s top priority. “Housing is the big, big issue,” she said.

“Our councils, our local authorities, approved housing bodies, builders, developers, new technologies — all of this has to be going at full tilt and more to start trying to catch up with the level of crisis that we have, and for us in Sinn Féin, if we have the chance in government after the next general election, this is our number one issue.”

Ms McDonald said she did not accept, as has been previously asserted by the Government, that it has turned a corner on the issue of housing.

“I don’t accept that they’ve turned a corner — as a matter of fact, I think they’re going around in circles,” she said, citing concerns over the availability of housing, homeless levels, and high rents.

Meanwhile, Ms McDonald has stood by her decision to travel to the US earlier this month, saying it provided an unmissable opportunity to air concerns over the American government’s support of Israel amid the ongoing offensive in Gaza.

US TRIP

Ahead of the Patrick’s Day visit to Washington, some had called for an Irish political boycott of the annual trip.

Speaking to The Echo this week, Ms McDonald said she understood why some felt it was the “wrong move” to attend, adding: “I have to say, respectfully, I hear that, I understand it, but I do not share that view.”

Ms McDonald said she could not pass up the opportunity to speak with senior US figures about the need for a ceasefire. 

“It’s not just the White House, it’s the entire apparatus of the US system is open to us as Irish political people and leaders in a way that is unparalleled, quite frankly… For me, the question isn’t how could you go? The question for me is how could I not go?”

During her visit, Ms McDonald said she was vocal about the need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. 

“While I was there, the issue of the ceasefire was raised in a very forthright manner.

“The United States has now moved; not enough, but they have moved on that question.

“The issue of the United States arming and funding Israel was raised very directly with everybody, and they have been challenged hard by Ireland, by all of us I think, although I can only speak for myself,” she said.

The UN Security Council this week demanded a ceasefire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, its first demand to halt fighting.

The US abstained, deciding not to use its veto power, and the resolution passed 14-0.

Ms McDonald described as “diabolical” the situation in Gaza and said she believes concerns during the visit to the US were heard “loudly and clearly”.