Pearse Doherty: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail continue to insult Sinn Fein voters

Engaging with the public should not be just something you do during an election.

That might be Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s way but it will never be Sinn Fein’s.

We are elected to represent the people in our communities.

We will always sit down and listen to the public about the issues and challenges affecting them day to day.

(Left to right) Sinn Fein TDs Eoin O Broin, Pearse Doherty and Louise OReilly, speaking to media at Leinster House in Dublin (Aine McMahon/PA Wire)

Having such discussions is a perfectly normal thing to do.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s hysterical and nonsensical responses to our decision to hold public meetings shows just how out of touch they are.

The Green Party are also holding such rallies.

But when Sinn Fein do it, this is something Fine Gael and Fianna Fail trip over themselves to sneer at us – and our voters.

We don’t care what they think about us but it is an insult to the people who voted for us.

They voted for us because they know Sinn Fein can provide solutions to the crises affecting them.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are afraid of that change and don’t want that change.

They are responsible for the housing crisis, the rental crisis and the trolley crisis. And know they won’t solve them.

That is bad enough. What is worse is they are afraid of the public hearing Sinn Fein can.

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald looks at flood prevention measures in the Mill Bank area of Athlone (PA)

Neither wants to speak to us about forming a Government.

If it takes public meetings for our policies and solutions to the country’s crises to be heard, then we will continue to bring our message forward to the public and hear from them.

It is becoming increasingly clear Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are looking to once again carve up political power.

They want to deny the need and clear mandate for change that was delivered at the General Election. Their reaction to Sinn Fein engaging with our voters only serves to underline that.

Instead, they want to keep themselves in power again.

In doing so, Fianna Fail want to put disastrous ministers such as Simon Harris and Eoghan Murphy back in office. That is an insult.

People need a break. Sinn Fein has the solutions and the will to address these issues.

And we will not be told by Fianna Fail or Fine Gael that we can’t discuss those solutions with the public.