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SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has said she will meet with several other party leaders over the next week, and said she hopes to meet with Micheál Martin as government formation talks continue.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s This Week programme, McDonald criticised Martin and Fianna Fáil for not reaching out to Sinn Féin since the general election.
“They’ve talked to others, the only group that they steadfastly refuse to speak to is the second largest party in the Dáil,” McDonald said.
“For Micheál Martin to look down his nose at over 400,000 people who voted for Sinn Féin, and to disregard those votes en masse is really a bad look” the Sinn Féin leader added.
Micheál Martin confirmed on Wednesday that Fianna Fáil has approached independent TDs who, he said, “clearly have a potential role” in the government formation negotiations.
It is now widely accepted that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will again form a government with a third party and both party leaders confirmed as much this week.
McDonald conceded that Sinn Féin had not made enough gains in the recent general election to enter government, but added that the election results had confirmed that 2020 “was not a flash in the pan” for the party.
“I think it confirms us as a significant, very potent force in political life here in south of the border,” McDonald said. “It confirms us as the leader of the opposition”.
McDonald added that Sinn Féin have a duty to “press” Fianna Fáil “to step away from failed, disastrous approaches that they have been pursuing with Fine Gael over the last number of years”.
“Our job is to, where we can, move heaven and earth to effect change, where change is so desperately needed in government policy,” McDonald said.
“Our job is to hold the government to account, to keep the pressure on, because we need substantive change. If we don’t affect that change, we will simply have a slow motion re run of the last five years”.
The Sinn Féin leader also ruled out rumours that she would run as Sinn Féin’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election in 2025.
McDonald said she was previously unaware of claims that she was planning to step down as party leader for a presidential bid, adding “I suppose column inches have to be filled and stories have to be told”.
“It’s not something at all that’s been on my horizon. I have a very busy and a very responsible role,” McDonald added.
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They are part of a contest where they are literally judged on their appearance and intellect…
@Martin Black: I think it’s a ridiculous competition but that doesn’t give the CEO the right to refer to them in the manner he did. If he wouldn’t say it to their faces he certainly shouldn’t be saying it through email.
@Martin Black: intellect???
@Number 20: Indeed people have; but have you ever participated in a group chain email that said desparaging things about people with whom you interactions with were on a professional basis, and where you were the head of the professional organisation?
@Number 20: “You only care when white men in positions of power do it, don’t you.” – No. I care about any person in a professional setting, especially if they are in a position of power, going on a tirade against another. It is unacceptable behaviour.
@Number 20: do you believe he behaved in an unprofessional manner or not? Forget comparing him to the behaviour of people who call themselves journalists etc. Do you think it was unprofessional of the ceo to take part in this or not? And if it was ridiculously unprofessional, which I think it was, do you think there should be repercussions or not?
@Number 20: No I haven’t written a letter of complaint. I have signed petitions, and I protest with my pocket by not purchasing such publications, or visiting such websites. And that’s not a secret. It is also a different issue to the one at hand. We are talking about professionals not acting professionally. And yes, if this person had been female I would expect a similar response to the behaviour.
@Number 20: no doubt you would as I am human and I tend to prefer animals to people more and more recently. But in a professional capacity if someone does something like this, there are repercussions, as there would be against me if I were to do what he did. When I was in college I did part time work in a chain store. The manager decided to have an unmerciful b**** about one of the staff to two other members of staff. He just didn’t like the guy and decided to air everything about him that he knew and some. He was reported to the regional manager and there were repercussions. I think this is basically that but it’s getting more hype because he’s the ceo of something that a lot of people have issues with already and of course it makes for great click bait.
@Number 20: Who hasn’t, but he worked with these women in a professional capacity and put his comments in writing, presumably using his work email.
@Number 20: Aaaah, the classic “what’s the big deal, everyone’s doing it?” defence. That one never loses it’s shine, does it?
The writer “who has since being terminated”. Harsh. Releasing information will be interesting in this latest case. Pageants will have to be banned – especially ones for kids.
@lavbeer: to be honest ive always thought kids beauty pageant type contests were beyond weird.
@Number 20: did I specify particular pageants? Nope, don’t believe I did. I just find them all weird. Funny that you only seem to find that one weird… I personally find them all weird..
https://youtu.be/L1HQtUqpR-g
@Number 20: oh also.. Weren’t child beauty pageants banned in France?
@Number 20: no there really wasn’t, maybe you will keep that in check in future, but I doubt it.
@Number 20: if I say I have a problem with child beauty type pageants, why would I make an exception because the child is in drag? A child is a child and I don’t think putting them on display in 60 tonne of make up and the feathers of half a flock of flamingos is beneficial to any child and will make them link their worth to their appearance and their ability to entertain others. I think that’s unhealthy for any child. The way you asked the question comes across like you expected me to say I thought it was OK. They are all children, they deserve childhoods.
@Number 20: oh I know full well why you brought it up, and given that I’m a so called progressive in your words and I don’t encourage this behaviour, you have just proven that you know sod all about what supposed progressives are pushing and have just given an insight into your own mind. Don’t accuse me of being passive aggressive when you are the one who was on the attack in the first place, there’s a good lad.
@Number 20: oh and a happy Christmas to you too.
@Number 20: jeesk, you wish someone a happy Xmas and you get called rude. Go figure
@Dell: I find the use of Xmas instead of Christmas pretty rude and offensive myself.
@Number 20: jesus wept..
@Let free speech live: I’m sure you do… And I’m glad you took the time to share that with us all.
@Number 20: grow up would you? You came on here with an agenda and with a preconception and you were wrong. Deal with it. Crying about me being rude is just silly at this stage. Dry your eyes up and move on for the love of whatever.
@Number 20: same question to you.
@Number 20: Methinks you doth protest too much !
Shame on whoever leaked the emails bringing this celebration of female empowerment into disrepute.
@alphanautica:
At the end of the day, they all have lovely bottoms.
@alphanautica: yes I’m sure you guys only look out for women and equality.
pretty stupid things to say in emails where there is a permanent record of what you said. The guy brought the suspension on himself.
have your say