Sinn Féin taking the housing ministry would be a red line in any post-election governmental negotiations, Mary Lou McDonald has said.
The party president said tackling the housing crisis was Sinn Féin’s number one priority.
Ms McDonald, who is back at work after several months off recovering from hysterectomy surgery, said Sinn Féin was now on an election footing.
She also insisted her party would not be repeating the mistake of the 2020 general election and running too few candidates.
Asked whether the housing portfolio was a “red line” for Sinn Féin in any post-election government formation talks, Ms McDonald said “yes”.
She was addressing reporters at the start of her party’s think-in event in Dublin.
“We want to effect change across all of government, I don’t have as clear-cut an answer for you in respect of other portfolios, but for us housing is absolutely core,” she said.
“It’s absolutely key.
“We have had a ringside seat now for government failure since the last general election. They told us that they had heard the people, that the housing crisis couldn’t continue.
“What do we have? A continuing crisis. I spoke to one young mother in my own community, she has two lovely children. She’s waiting to be housed. She was told her position on the list and she was informed that it could take 10 years for her to be housed – her children will be grown. That’s not acceptable. That’s absolutely not acceptable.”
Ms McDonald said the countdown to the election had begun.
“I’ve heard very clearly the appeals of people urging us in Sinn Féin to be ready for the next election, urging us to have the number of candidates needed,” she said.
“So, to them I say, make no mistake, Sinn Féin will be ready.
“We are now on an election footing and our focus will be on maximising our vote and electing enough Sinn Féin TDs to lead government, a truly new government.”
Ms McDonald added: “We need a general election. I believe we’re now on a countdown to the day when the people will have their say and when people make that democratic decision we will talk to everyone, and we will put Sinn Féin’s policies for a better future firmly on the table.
“In my opinion, the very best outcome of that election is a new government without Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael for the first time in 100 years.
“I hope that people back that vision. However, friends, we’re not presumptuous.
“The outcome of the next general election is far from decided and we know that we have a lot of hard work to do between now and then.”
Ms McDonald said housing would be the “defining issue” of the election.
“Sinn Féin in government will end the housing crisis,” she said.
“A Sinn Fein-led government will build the homes that our people need.
“We will deliver the biggest affordable and social housing programme that this state has ever seen. That is the level of action needed to match the scale of the challenge we face.
“If the people give us the opportunity to lead, Sinn Féin will make housing the number one priority of a new government – not only in words, but in actions, not only in actions, but in results.”
The Sinn Féin leader insisted her party would make sure it ran enough candidates in the next general election.
“After the last general election, I literally could not walk the length of myself without people telling me that we hadn’t run enough candidates,” she said.
“This time, we will not make that mistake, we will be prepared, we will be match fit.
“We will go to the people in all humility, but well-prepared looking for as big a mandate as we can take.”
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD has said that a change of government is needed to get to grips with the crises in housing, health and the cost of living@MaryLouMcDonald https://t.co/rdkSaAmh9X pic.twitter.com/Uk9azz0vCf
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) September 15, 2023
The party president declined to put a target on the number of seats Sinn Féin was aiming for.
“We take nothing for granted, there are no slam dunks, there is nothing inevitable about Sinn Féin being in government,” she said.
“However, we do believe that the appetite for political change is alive and well.”
On her recent surgery, Ms McDonald said she was in “great health”.
“As Mark Twain said, rumours of my demise are greatly exaggerated,” she said.
“I’m back and I’m sure the lads will be thrilled out of their minds to have me back.”
She said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Micheál Martin had been in touch to wish her well, with Mr Varadkar having also sent her flowers.
The Taoiseach was asked about the gesture at his own party think-in event in Limerick.
Asked by reporters if it could be interpreted as opening the door for a future coalition, Mr Varadkar said: “No, definitely not.
“Look, Mary Lou McDonald is somebody I’ve known down the years. We used to live only a stone’s throw from each other in Castleknock 20 years ago.
“It was just a personal gesture.”
