Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has insisted that when people in her party fail to behave well they experience “real consequences” whilst accusing some other party leaders of not demanding similar “accountability.”
In an interview with the Opinion Line, on Cork’s 96FM, Ms McDonald was asked if voters should should question the suitability of Sinn Féin for Government given recent scandals which have rocked the party.
However, Ms McDonald insisted that there was no way to “legislate for human behaviour.”
“Issues arise in any organisation. The question is the response when issues arise. And in each case, and there were difficult cases, I demanded accountability and where there was bad behaviour where behaviour fell below standards there was real consequences for people.
"The way I have handled matters contrasts very dramatically with the way in which other political leaders have failed in my view to seek accountability from their members who haven’t behaved well.”
Meanwhile, Ms McDonald stated that housing remains a key issue with voters.
“We are saying to people that you have the real historic opportunity to elect a government beyond Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
"It is about a whole generation locked out of housing. It is about home ownership collapsing particularly for the under forties. Rents through the roof and rising and the fact that we need to get to grips with that. The whole system needs to be faster and more responsive.
"We believe that with the right Government in place, with the right Minister in place with the right approach and the right plans we can get to grips with things and that we can deliver houses. Just remember that the construction workforce is at or in fact slightly larger than it would have been at peak Celtic Tiger.
"I mention the need for us to be resourcing our apprenticeships more effectively and getting people through their time efficiently.
"We are going to have to come at this from a number of different directions, but the good news is that the resources are there. They have to be invested. We have the plan.”
The Sinn Féin party leader also described “policing” as a huge challenge and expressed her dissatisfaction with the running of the Department of Justice.”
“I think obviously the level of policing and policing visibility is a huge challenge. Garda numbers are an issue. We have proposals for that including the opening of a second garda training college.
"I think we need something of a sea change in how we deal with repeat offenders. I would say we would be open to serving in all portfolios. For us the housing portfolio is obviously absolutely key. Health is key. The Justice portfolio — the Department of Justice has not been served well in recent times.
"We are looking to expand the footprint of that Department to be a Department of Justice and Home Affairs. We think issues around immigration and so on need to be consolidated and brought under the watch of that department. We need a big change there.”
She added that at this time her first job is to maximise the party vote.
“We can all speculate on the mathematics of the election but it is in the hands of the people. Half of the population or more vote beyond Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael so I think there is ample scope for Government with Sinn Fein in it led by Sinn Fein.
"But the big proviso is that people come out and make the change. Give us our chance that is what we are asking for. Our advice to people is to vote for your Sinn Féin candidates and then to progress your preferences to others who like us believe that we need as the Housing Commission put it “a fundamental change in housing policy.
"Yes (vote left). For those of us who want to see a change of Government, a coherent government that can deliver homes for people, that is serious about delivering services for people with disabilities, for children with disabilities for mental health — all of the lived things that your listeners know.”
