A Sinn Féin candidate for the European elections says the party are not concerned by a drop in support in recent polling figures.
Councillor Daithí Doolan, who is a MEP candidate for Dublin, dismissed the importance of recent polling figures.
Despite Sinn Féin still remaining the most popular party in the country, the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A has them drawing level with Fine Gael, a drop of five points.
However, speaking to Breakingnews.ie, Mr Doolan says he is not concerned by recent figures, and used the jump in support after the 2019 elections as an example.
"Polls go up, polls go down. Polls don't build houses, polls don't make communities safer, they don't sort out the healthcare, housing, and all the crisis and challenges that we face.
"The only thing that will change is a Government, and I want the EU to be a positive force for change in Dublin. If you look at the last poll last Sunday, we are on 27 per cent.
"In the last local and European elections in 2019, we were on nine or 10 per cent, so even on 20 per cent, we still have a really, really, good election."
Housing
Mr Doolan said the housing crisis has been the main talking point when canvassing. The Sinn Féin councillor says this has become an EU wide issue, and criticised the EU for not realising the scale of the problem.
"The housing crisis is now an EU crisis, it is no longer confined to one or two countries.
"I think there has been no sense of the crisis in Europe. I think the MEPs and bureaucrats have no sense whatsoever of what is going on the ground in the housing crisis and the depth of a crisis there is.
"It has now become a social crisis, whereby people in the public sector can no longer live or work in Dublin. Teachers, nurses, doctors, guards, people in the fire brigade, can no longer afford to live in Dublin.
"At an EU level, what we need to do is radically reform the public procurement process, that is currently hampering the building of public housing in Dublin.
"The full circle constantly comes back to the housing crisis. If we are to unlock the potential, and solution around housing, many other issues will fall into place."
Immigration has once again been a major talking point, as tents were moved in another operation on the Grand Canal.
The Government also announced plans to means-test asylum seekers, which will see their welfare payments cut if they are employed and earning more than €125 a week.
Mr Doolan has called the scenes on the Grand Canal a "travesty", and has criticised the Government for their lack of spending.
"What is happening along the canal is a travesty, nobody, no matter who they are or where they are from, should be forced to live in tents in Dublin.
"The Government on one hand, love to beat their chest that we have a budget surplus bigger and greater than ever in the history of the State. We need to use that money to ensure that nobody is forced to live in tents on the canal.
"That is letting people in the community down, and that is letting the people in tents down. The blame for that lies fairly and squarely with the Government. Long before there was a debate on the migration pact, this Government were failing on the issue of asylum-seeking.
"Migration happens because we are in the EU. People arrive from Spain, Germany, Britain: they are welcome, and they become part of our communities, they contribute greatly to our economy.
"The issue here is the failed broken asylum-seeking process. The Government, in a white paper three years ago, were committed to building purpose-built emergency accommodation for asylum seekers. They haven't built as many as one unit."
Irish Unity
Asylum seekers arriving from Britain led to political rows between the Irish and British governments, particularly with the introduction of the Rwanda policy.
With a surprise UK general election announced, it is expected Labour will not follow through with this policy should they get into government.
Mr Doolan says the next UK government should prepare for a referendum on Irish unity, which would give Ireland greater control over its borders.
"There shouldn't be a British border in Ireland. We want to see a united Ireland; that is the best way to protect our borders. There should be a sea border, and that should be protected as a sovereign nation.
"Britain should use this general election as a stepping stone to ensure that there is a referendum on Irish unity, that they throw their shoulder behind Irish unity, and work towards a peaceful transition to Irish unity.
"That will serve Irish people best, and Britain best."
Response to Gaza
The EU response to Israel's actions in Gaza have been widely criticised, particularly those of commissioner Ursula von der Leyen.
Statements in supports for Israel, has led to many MEP candidates, including Mr Doolan, signalling they will not support her for a second term.
In a week when Ireland announced recognising the state of Palestine, the Dublin candidate called for Ms Von Den Leyen to resign and take back statements of support for Israel.
Mr Doolan says the Good Friday Agreement should be used as an example of delivering peace for Palestine, which the EU helped deliver.
"I think what Ursula von der Leyen said on October was a travesty, she didn't speak for Irish people. Unfortunately, some Irish MEPs will be supporting her if they get re-elected. That's a travesty.
"The reputation of the EU lies in tatters because of her statements. They should be retracted and she should in no way represent the EU in any level.
"I think the actions taken by Israel with her support prove once again her reputation lies in tatters. It is time the EU rolls up its sleeves, redouble efforts, demands an immediate ceasefire, gets the embargoes lifted, and ensures international aid flows unhindered into Gaza.
"More importantly, in the long term, the EU needs to play a positive role in ensuring there is peace in the Middle East that guarantees Palestine self-determination and the Palestinians justice, peace and freedom.
"We have a peace process that is 25 years old now, it is probably a gold standard peace process. Globally, I think it has been one of the most successful peace processes.
"It couldn't have happened just with Ireland. It happened because we had Ireland and the EU underlining it and supporting it. We need to bring the same sense of confidence and support to Palestine, and ensure there is a peace process there.
"I do not believe for one minute Ursula von der Leyen is that person."
