Mixed response to Sinn Féin pre-election pact

Anti-water charge campaigners and opposition TDs have played down Sinn Féin’s hopes of a pre-election pact.

Sinn Féin deputy leader, Mary Lou McDonald, said the party would advise its voters to back the Right2Change — a coalition of unions, politicians and groups opposed to water charges — second to itself.

The Dublin TD said the Sinn Féin decision to align itself with other opposition groups would provide a very real chance of a left-wing government after the general election.