Powersharing shows Sinn Féin can ‘hold it together’ in Republic, McDonald says

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The UK Government is “not minded to fund the North correctly”, Mary Lou McDonald claimed as she defended Sinn Féin’s record in the power-sharing Executive.

Ms McDonald made the remarks as she seeks to lead Sinn Féin to victory in the general election on Friday, and become Taoiseach.

The Sinn Féin leader was responding to questioning on how the party could stand over pledges on housing delivery on the Republic of Ireland, given under supply in Northern Ireland.

The housing portfolio north of the border was previously held by Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey.

Ms McDonald said Ms Hargey had set out a “hugely ambitious, transformational plan” during her time in the role.

However, she added: “The Tories, sadly, who unfortunately hold the purse strings, and now the successor government, under (Sir) Keir Starmer, are not minded to fund the North correctly.

“That’s at the root of the problem.”

Ms McDonald said the picture of the public service in Northern Ireland is generally “not good”, adding that to compare the two jurisdictions is like comparing apples and oranges.

Speaking on RTE’s Six One News, she added: “North of the border, there is not the capacity to raise or vary taxes.

“You are looking at an entirely different scenario and I regret that deeply.

“I’m a united Irelander, but sadly, at this point in time, our country is partitioned.”

Ms McDonald said First Minister Michelle O’Neill and other Sinn Féin members of the Executive “aim high” when making demands from the UK Government, adding that they are “constantly putting pressure on the Treasury”.

She said: “It’s a matter of great frustration to me as a Republican and a united Irelander, that on the one hand the British government, the system, insists that it remain and hold jurisdiction in the North, and yet it won’t fund the place correctly.”

Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin has “delivered in spades in very challenging circumstances” in the multi-party power-sharing arrangement.

She argued that this showed Sinn Féin’s ability to “hold things together”.

Asked about complaints that Northern Ireland’s health service is not provided adequate funding by the Sinn Féin Finance Minister, Ms McDonald said Caoimhe Archibald can not do a “loaves and fishes job”.

She added: “She’s a brilliant, brilliant woman and a brilliant minister, but she does not have the power of miracles, unfortunately.”