Calling for a “rules-based” immigration system is a “classic left-wing position” for a party that supports the working class, Mary Lou McDonald has said. Sinn Féin made “no apologies” for representing “working people”, she said. Polls show that Sinn Féin has consistently enjoyed popularity among younger voters, but McDonald remains concerned about voter apathy among young people. Mary Lou McDonald: 'My true ambition is government beyond Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. In the 2024 general election, McDonald failed to bring in her running mate Sinn Féin councillor Janice Boylan.

Source: The Irish Times January 01, 2026 13:04 UTC