Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has lost another bid to become the first woman Taoiseach after her nomination was defeated in the Dáil.
Ms McDonald’s nomination lost, with 44 voting in favour and 110 voting against it. There were 14 abstentions, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy confirmed.
Ms McDonald was nominated by two party members, Pearse Doherty and new TD Joanna Byrne.
After the 2020 general election, when Sinn Fein emerged as the joint largest party in the Dáil, Ms McDonald’s nomination as taoiseach also failed.
She received 45 votes, making her the most popular candidate of those proposed, with 84 TDs voting against her nomination and 29 abstaining.
Tánaiste Micheal Martin criticised the party for nominating Ms McDonald.
The Fianna Fáil leader said that after the 2020 general election, Sinn Féin argued the party that received the largest vote should lead the government.
“So, if it was being consistent, it would be in the process of nominating me today,” he said, prompting jeers in the Dáil.
He interjected amid noise in the chamber that “breaking out the flags and celebrating an exit poll is more than a bit premature”.
“I think one of the things which most encourages cynicism about politics is when our time is wasted on empty gestures and grandstanding,” Mr Martin said.
“There is no better way to describe the decision by Sinn Féin to propose its leader for the position of taoiseach today and we all know that no-one has the support yet to be elected as taoiseach today. There’s no new government available yet.”
Speaking after she lost her bid, Ms McDonald said the political landscape has been “transformed” in recent years.
“The days of the same two parties controlling not just government, but opposition also for generations are gone and they are not coming back,” she said.
“This election confirmed that 2020 (election) was not a flash in the pan, that it wasn’t simply a once-off election.
“Whether you like it or not, our party Sinn Féin is now a significant, potent force in political life here.
“We are determined to work with others elected to this Dáil, to build and strengthen the alternative to perpetual Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government.
“Collectively, we were elected on a mandate of change and we have considerable strength.
“Our responsibility now is to collaborate, to co-operate, to work together in common purpose, to advance a platform of progress and force a change of direction from the policies that have brought crisis, hardship and a denial of opportunity for far too many.
“We must also do better at convincing more people, inspiring more people, rallying more people, to the vision of a better, fairer and more equal Ireland, and we will do that.”
Sinn Féin’s Mr Doherty said that during the election the party had argued that Ireland needed a new government and a new leader, adding “Mary Lou McDonald is that leader”.
He said: “The government Teachta McDonald would lead would be a government of change, a new government that would end the housing crisis and make housing affordable for working people, a government that would transform our health services and end the wait for treatment, one that would introduce affordable childcare for families, ensure a better deal for ordinary workers and ensure our young people can build a future and a life here in Ireland.
“We’ve had 100 years of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments. It is enough.”
Calling Ms McDonald a leader “of incredible strength, resilience and perseverance”, he said there was a need “to break with the merry-go-round of a century”.
