Mick Clifford: Mind your language, Mary Lou

Mary Lou McDonald is aware of the dangers of loose language and sending out signals that can be misinterpreted at such a sensitive time.

Let’s talk about talk. Last Tuesday in the Dáil, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald opened Leaders’ Questions with a query about housing Ukrainians fleeing Putin’s war. By accident or design she conflated their plight with that of those in this country who are at the sharp end of the housing crisis.

“Not content with denying our own people the right to an affordable, secure roof over their heads, the government now extends its catastrophic failure to those coming to Ireland seeking humanitarian assistance,” she stated.