'What's seldom is wonderful' - McDonald defends flying business class

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has defended her decision to fly business class to Australia - to fundraise for the party.

Deputy Lou McDonald returned yesterday from a 10-day visit - during which she travelled to five cities, including Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

The business-class flights costs €4,000 for return tickets, which she says was paid for by party funds.

Deputy McDonald says given the scale of the tour, it was helpful to have the comfort of business class.

"It's expensive to travel to that part of the world anyhow," she said.

"As they say 'what's seldom is wonderful' - and it was extremely helpful just given the scale of the tour itself to have that level of comfort coming and going.

"It was paid for by party funds, there was no taxpayer's money involved."