Sinn Féin ‘at a crossroads’ with need to ‘iron out’ position – Holly Cairns

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

Sinn Féin “need to iron out what their position is” on several issues, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has said.

She was speaking after the election of her party’s Daniel Ennis in Dublin Central – the home of Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, whose candidate came second.

Cairns said Sinn Féin is a left-wing party “at a crossroads”, highlighting its abstention on the Social Democrats’ reproductive rights Bill in recent weeks.

“I think Sinn Féin may be at a crossroads with a number of issues, that’s a matter for them, but I think they need to figure out where they are going,” she told reporters in Galway West on Sunday.

Asked whether Sinn Féin is a left-wing party, she said: “In many respects they are and they say that they are, I think there are some issues that they need to iron out what their position is on them, but that’s a matter for them.”

She said voters are seeking a more “positive” political offering and that the Social Democrats “never equivocate”.

“I think people are looking for a type of politics that has the courage of its convictions,” she said.

“We never equivocate on issues and people really know where they stand with the Social Democrats.

“I think people more and more are looking for that straight-talking type of politics.”

She encouraged people to vote left and transfer left, and said there is a strong transfer between left candidates in Galway and Dublin but “more can be done on that”.

She added: “Encouraging people to vote left, transfer left ensures a broad left government and then you can pick which party you agree with the most.”

Asked about Sinn Féin’s persuasion, Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly said she comes from a working class background and the trade union movement.

“I joined a party that is a champion for working class people,” she said.