Sinn Féin ‘striking balance between unity push and bread-and-butter issues’

Left to right, John Finucane MP, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill holding a sign with Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald, and Conor Murphy during the Sinn Fein manifesto launch at the MAC, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Féin wants to strike a balance between its aspiration for Irish unity and tackling the real life concerns of people, Mary Lou McDonald has said.

The party president insisted the process of planning for unification, through the establishment of an all-island citizens’ assembly, could continue alongside efforts to deal with bread-and-butter issues, such as rocketing living costs and spiralling health service waiting lists.