Expressing her concern at how Ireland may emerge from the health crisis, Mary Lou McDonald said work should start towards unification.
“Brexit and Covid-19 have made Irish unity part of every day conversation,” she said in an online message.
“Growing our economy, protecting our health service, strengthening our agriculture require an all Ireland approach.
“So now is the time to progress this journey together.”
Keynote Address by Mary Lou McDonald https://t.co/vkr5VDtga8
Advertisement— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) September 19, 2020
Ms McDonald referred to a “critical time” in efforts to control the spread of the virus and blasted “mixed messages” from government causing “huge confusion and anxiety” in people’s lives.
She said the pandemic “hasn’t dampened the appetite for change”, adding “if anything, it has strengthened it”.
“We need a change and fairness like we have never needed them before,” she said.
“Next month’s budget must be the first step to put things right. We must fix housing and healthcare, we must fix education and our economy and we must plan for the reunification of our country.
“That is what I would be focused on if I were Taoiseach.”
Meanwhile an opinion poll commissioned by the Sunday Times has indicated a slight increase in support for Sinn Féin and Fine Gael.
A survey of more than 900 voters over 12 days to last Tuesday found support for Fine Gael is up one point to 30%, support for Sinn Féin is up two points to 32% and support for Fianna Fáil has fallen by one point to 19%.
The General Election result in February was not a protest vote
It was a seismic shift in Irish politics
The people of Ireland demand change and that demand will not falter
Sinn Féin are continuing to stand up for workers, families and a new Ireland in the Dáil#TimeForChange pic.twitter.com/orR32QqOQUAdvertisement— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) September 19, 2020
The Irish general election earlier this year saw Fianna Fáil emerge as the largest party with 38 seats, slightly ahead of Sinn Féin with 37 seats while Fine Gael got 35 seats in the Dáil.
The Sunday Times poll also indicated that the Greens are down one point to 5%, while Labour remains unchanged at 3%.
The Social Democrats are unchanged at 1%, while Solidarity/People Before Profit also remain at 1%.
Support for Independents is put at 9% – which is also unchanged.
