Sinn Féin will demand housing portfolio in any future coalition — McDonald
Party president Mary Lou McDonald (left) and vice President Michelle O'Neill speaking at the start of the party think-in at the Clayton Hotel in Belfast. Picture: David Young/PA Wire
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she received good wishes from political rivals “across the board” following a hysterectomy, and even received flowers from the Taoiseach.
Ms McDonald said she also received a message of support from Tánaiste Micheál Martin saying “as a matter of fact, the Taoiseach sent me flowers, which I thought was very nice.”
Ms McDonald said “for the very most part across politics”, people are decent and kind when it comes to personal circumstances including health.
She said she is not going to get “hung up” on gossip and speculation about her health within Leinster House in recent weeks adding that she is pleased to be “back in the fray” and is fully recovered following a hysterectomy.
Ms McDonald joked that she is sure many in Leinster House were awaiting her imminent return “with all due haste”.
“I'm back and I'm sure the lads will be thrilled out of their minds to have me back,” she said.
She was speaking ahead of Sinn Féin’s think-in which will cover a range of issues including the next general election.
Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin is heading into a “big year” of local and European elections as well as a general election which could happen “at any point”, saying “the sooner the better”.
“This Government is now heading towards its fourth budget. Despite commitments that they would deal with housing, and that housing would take priority, we still see a housing crisis looming large,” she said adding that it is now impacting every generation.
Sinn Féin will demand the housing portfolio in any future coalition it may be a part of, she said.
“We want to affect change across all of Government. I don't have as clear cut an answer for you in respect of other portfolios but for us, housing is absolutely core, it’s absolutely key,” she said.
Ms McDonald said the party’s housing spokesperson Eoin O’Broin is currently working with homelessness figures in mind, so that “if we are given the opportunity of being in Government that we can get stuck into that immediately.”
Ms McDonald said the party’s ambition is to provide a Government of change, however cautioned that there are “no slam dunks here”.
“We take nothing for granted,” she said before adding: “There is nothing inevitable about Sinn Féin being in Government. However, we do believe that the appetite for political change is alive and well. It has not diminished since the last general election.”
Ms McDonald said the party will be “match-fit” and aim to secure as big a mandate as possible in the next election adding that the best outcome would be a Government without either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.
Separately, the Sinn Féin leader said there are “very profound” governance and cultural issues within RTÉ.
She said direct funding from the exchequer is one option in terms of the broadcaster’s sustainability however added “absolute independence” from any political interference must be one of the foremost considerations.
Ms McDonald said she sees merit in direct funding from the exchequer for sustainability and planning purposes.
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