McDonald: SF must act on public profile rather than cry about it

THE incoming vice-president of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, has warned supporters the party has to re-examine how it sells itself to the public.

She accepted there was a concern among members about its limited public profile and, rather than “cry about it”, Ms McDonald said supporters had to be proactive.

“This political organisation, like any other, has to be constantly self-evaluating... not just in terms of structures but in terms of our political message and our capacity to gain political support for our political viewpoint.

“All Sinn Féin activists have the task of setting that agenda very clearly in a way that is understandable and accessible to people and in a way they can support.”

Ms McDonald was speaking ahead of the two-day Sinn Féin Árd Fheis which begins in the RDS today.

She also called on other left-wing parties to pursue a common agenda.

In recent polls the party failed to capitalise on a collapse in Government support and has instead watched Fine Gael and, in particular, the Labour Party absorb the bulk of the protest vote.

“Of course I would like a massive bounce for us in the polls... we need to establish our presence in the media in a more proactive way.”

The party’s finance spokesman in the Dáil, Arthur Morgan, said Sinn Féin continued to suffer because it did not have the numbers to form a working-group, which would allow it participate in the most high-profile event in the Oireachtas, Leaders’ Questions.

However, he predicted the party may get an opportunity to improve its numbers once the banking crisis and Anglo Irish Bank deals are unfurled.

“We could have an opportunity sooner than you think.

“Rumours now are sweeping through the Dáil much more frequently than they ever did before in terms of a potential general election,” he said.

Both Ms McDonald and Mr Morgan spoke about perceptions on Sinn Féin’s post-peace process profile.

Two motions which will come before the Árd Fheis will specifically address this.

One proposes party headquarters monitor the national media for a perceived discrimination against it. The motion particularly refers to RTÉ.

A second claims the press on both sides of the border is hostile towards the party and calls on its leadership to bypass the media in getting its message to members.

However, Ms McDonald said it would not serve the party to claim to be a victim. “I don’t think there is a conspiracy, but clearly some of our members believe there is an issue around our visibility in the media.

“But rather than cry about it, we just need to tackle it. I do think that our interest as a political party... I think we are at a time where there is a genuine wish to hear a variety of political options... in a way I don’t think there was two years ago.”