Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald blasts ‘arrogant’ rivals

Fianna Fail has ruled out entering a coalition with Sinn Fein because of its links to the IRA and wide policy differences over issues such as how to run the economy.

Sinn Fein emerged as the party with the largest first preference vote. It did not field enough candidates to fully capitalise on a wave of support inspired by discontent over problems in the south’s health system and access to housing.

Addressing her party’s AGM in Belfast on Saturday, Ms McDonald said: “The political establishment of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are circling the wagons in defence of a status quo that will not deliver the change citizens voted for last weekend.”

Sinn Fein topped the first preference poll following the general election. Its total of 37 seats is one fewer than that of Fianna Fail.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s Fine Gael won 35 seats.

No single party has the 80 TDs required to govern and Sinn Fein appears to have failed to muster enough support from a coalition of small left-leaning parties and independent members of the new Dail.

Ms McDonald said the public had given her party a chance to show it can improve their lives.

She said that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are determined to keep Sinn Fein out of government because they do not want change.

“And it now seems that Micheal Martin’s plan is to deny the people what they voted for,” she added.

“That is an arrogant and untenable position, given the strength of Sinn Fein’s mandate.”

Meanwhile, the Labour Party met in Dublin to discuss the contest for a new leader.

Outgoing chief Brendan Howlin has said he will not put himself forward as a candidate for speaker of the Dail, the Ceann Comhairle, to replace a Fianna Fail incumbent in the role.

Mr Howlin told the Irish Times: “The position of Ceann Comhairle is a very important one in the House, one I have enormous respect for, but it is not one that I intend to offer myself as a candidate to fill.”