Sinn Féin has corrected a perception that it was “pulling its punches” over immigration policy, Mary Lou McDonald has said. In the wake of last year’s local and European elections, Ms McDonald revealed that senior figures in Sinn Féin were “disappointed” with her engagement with the party’s base and that she needed to offer more clarity on its policies, including on immigration. In an interview with the Press Association this week, she maintained that Sinn Féin had reconnected with its base and communicated a critique of Government’s immigration policy “that has been much more clear”. Ms McDonald, who started out in politics by joining Fianna Fáil in 1998 for less than 12 months, was asked if her own time in the party gave her any insight into Mr Martin’s continued leadership, Ms McDonald said she had “not a sausage” what would happen with the party. The next test of the left-wing opposition unity will be by-elections in Dublin Central and Galway West, with Ms McDonald saying success meant “ideally winning both”.

Source: Irish Examiner December 24, 2025 08:00 UTC