McDonald ‘hoping’ for left transfers in election to fill Connolly’s seat

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Sinn Féin is hoping to “find a way” for transfers between left-leaning parties in the by-election triggered by the next presidency.

President-elect Catherine Connolly will have to vacate her seat as a TD for Galway West when she moves into Áras an Uachtaráin next month.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said her party will contest the resulting by-election in the constituency.

Ms McDonald has said Ms Connolly needed the support of Sinn Féin in her campaign for the presidency as the party rowed in with the Social Democrats, Labour, People Before Profit, the Greens and several independents.

The result of the presidential race has been hailed as a victory for a potential united left-wing movement which failed to offer a convincing combined alternative to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in last year’s general election.

Ms McDonald said on Sunday: “The first thing we have achieved is particularly for people after the last general election who may have despaired or doubted whether there was politics beyond Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, or rather, whether it was possible to win beyond Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

“We have said to all of those people: ‘Yes, we can’.

“When we come together, when we work collaboratively, when we show up for each other – we can win.”

Pressed on whether there would be a left unity candidate in the Galway West by-election, Ms McDonald said: “Sinn Féin will contest the by-election – we’re all individual around distinct parties.”

She told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics: “Of course, we will go in and contest in that way.

“I hope, in that contest as with others, we will find a way to transfer to and from each other, that we can still – on areas where we have common cause and common platforms – we can put that forward in a very, very constructive way.”

However, Ms McDonald emphasised Sinn Fein topped the poll in the constituency in the last general election with Mairead Farrell, adding: “We’ve got a very strong mandate from there.

“And not alone, will we contest that election, we will contest to win that seat and to make sure that it doesn’t fall to the Government.”

Asked if there would be a transfer pact with other parties in the absence of a unity candidate, Ms McDonald said: “I can’t be presumptuous, I have to go and talk to colleagues on that – but that would be my instinct on it.”

On the same programme, Fianna Fáil junior minister Timmy Dooley said the party’s abandoned campaign for Jim Gavin “shouldn’t be fatal” for leader and Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

He said: “For sure, this has been a disruption. It has been a difficult time. The Taoiseach has well alluded to his role in that.

“I think we have to move away in politics from somebody taking a decision with the best interests at heart, and ultimately it not working out.

“It shouldn’t be fatal. It shouldn’t be a reason that they’ve got to shuffle off at a particular time.

“The Taoiseach is committed to working on behalf of the Irish people.”