Paul Hosford: Holly Cairns steals a march on Sinn Féin with her impassioned stance on Gaza

The Social Democrats leader has connected with people in a way that could end up defining her party's unique selling point

Cork South-West TD and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has been strong on social issues, and is seen as a voice for the locked-out Generation Rent.  Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Recent social media posts by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns focus on the week gone by and, specifically, her party’s motion calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. The posts contain two clips of her Wednesday morning speech on the motion, her speech to the 2,000 or so protesters who showed up on Wednesday evening outside Leinster House, and her defiant post of the Dáil voting screen after the motion was defeated.

As evidenced by her speeches, this is an issue that Holly Cairns cares deeply and genuinely about, which is why her party used its Dáil private members’ time to raise it and why the motion was carefully crafted to take in EU research funding and the bloc’s trade deal with Israel to try to avoid a label of tokenism.

But on a political level, it is also an issue that has allowed Ms Cairns to steal something of a march on others in opposition. There have been impassioned contributions across the Dáil since the outbreak of violence in Gaza and Israel last month, with Richard Boyd Barrett, Ivana Bacik, Matt Carthy, and Catherine Connolly among others who have stood out.

Powerful speech

Arguably, though, no politician has put a face on what many are feeling as well as Ms Cairns did on Wednesday and it may well be the template for her party going forward. 

In her speech, Ms Cairns reflected a growing sense of helplessness with the situation in Gaza being felt among Irish people, not least its TDs.

“The Irish people are repulsed at the slaughter in Gaza and they want us to do whatever we can nationally and internationally to end it,” she said.

“However, this Government decided to amend the motion and replace the diplomatic and economic sanctions we proposed with platitudes and zero actions.

“Ireland has long been proud of our reputation as a voice for peace on the international stage as a country that values human rights and international law and advocates for nations and people who face oppression. Ireland has not been found wanting when it comes to words of support for the Palestinian people. However, in the face of an impending genocide, words are not enough. We must take action now, before it is too late.”

Ms Cairns’ social media posts have been liked thousands of times as she presents a human voice that is neither too passive nor too bombastic and which many — particularly younger women — are finding themselves connecting to. And that could very well be the Social Democrats’ best hope of thriving.

A party struggling to stand out

When she became leader in March, Ms Cairns inherited a party with a decent infrastructure, good TDs and with a number of good pieces of legislation. However, it was — and to some extent is — a party struggling to stand out. An initial polling bounce subsided as the party reverted to its 5-6% range and many in the public began to assume once more that the party remains destined to merge with Labour.

But if the party is able to lean on Ms Cairns’ appeal as a social activist rather than a politician, it may find the unique selling point it has sought. 

In Repeal, a generation of voters was electrified into action. If the Social Democrats can convince those people that they are the party that can continue that legacy, they could find a sizeable number of votes.

Ms Cairns has long found her home on social issues in the Dáil — she was strong during covid on maternity visiting rights, she has been one of the most prominent advocates for survivors of mother and baby homes, and she is seen as a voice for the locked-out Generation Rent. 

Sinn Féin's success

If Ms Cairns and her party needs inspiration, the opposition benches may provide it. In its key speaking slots in the Dáil, Sinn Féin has hammered the Government on health, housing, and the cost of living, with Mary Lou McDonald rarely deviating from the formula. 

For those who watch the Dáil obsessively, it can seem repetitive. For the voters, it’s pure reinforcement. 

It should not go unnoticed that the Social Democrats’ motion allowed it to steal a march on other parties, positioning itself very much on the left of Sinn Féin whose motion on a referral to the International Criminal Court looked more moderate in comparison.

But while it was a good week for the Social Democrats, who commanded airspace at home and as far as Al Jazeera, there is not long left for it to make its case to the public before a general election. Given the timeframe, it may just be best to focus on the social part of the name.