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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
William Dunne

Mary Lou McDonald slams Micheal Martin for 'arrogantly' dismissing coalition with Sinn Fein

Mary Lou McDonald has slammed Micheal Martin for "arrogantly" dismissing the idea of forming a government with Sinn Fein.

She said that while her party disagree with Fianna Fail on many issues, the electorate has voted for change and that's what parties must work towards.

The Dublin TD insisted the public want a new approach and not "five more years of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael".

She has released a statement blasting Fianna Fail's "reckless" position, said Ireland will see "more of the same" if the Cork TD's party goes into power with Fine Gael.

She said: "The people voted for change and politically the challenge is to give people the government that they voted for - that is a Government for Change.

"A government that will deal with the housing crisis and the trolley crisis, that will guarantee the pension age at sixty-five, that will give workers and families a break, and that will work for Irish Unity. That is what we want to deliver.

"Since the votes were counted Sinn Féin had taken a constructive and proactive approach to forming government.

"We are continuing to talk to the Greens, People before Profit and the Social Democrats and are making contact with Independents.

"While we strongly disagree with Fianna Fáil on many policies and issues, the voters have given us a mandate to make change happen and that is what we must do.

L to R: Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald at the final TV leaders' debate at the RTE studios in Donnybrook, Dublin (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

"Micheál Martin has arrogantly refused to speak to Sinn Féin - the party which won the election and which represents over half a million people. This position is totally untenable and reckless.

"Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have held power for almost a century. They want to have it all their own way. They seek to obstruct the alternative politics and the appetite of the people for change.

FIANNA FAIL LEADER MICHEAL MARTIN ARRIVES AT THE RTE PRIME TIME LEADERS' DEBATE

"The people didn’t vote for five more years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

"I cannot imagine who would be prepared to put these two parties back into government for more of the same. People will be appalled at the prospect of Micheál Martin putting Eoghan Murphy back in as Housing Minister and Simon Harris back in as Health Minister."

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