Sinn Féin to be no ‘mudguard’ for FF or FG, says McDonald

Deputy leader rules out propping up ‘conservative parties’ in coalition arrangement

Mary Lou McDonald: “We would not enter into a situation where we were in government for the sake of it.” Photograph: The Irish Times
Mary Lou McDonald: “We would not enter into a situation where we were in government for the sake of it.” Photograph: The Irish Times

Sinn Féin has again emphatically ruled out participating in a coalition government if there is a hung Dáil after the election.

The party's deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said it would not be a "mudguard'' for either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.

“We will not prop up either of those conservative parties,” she added.

Consequences

Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday, Ms McDonald said the party had seen their policy direction and the consequences of their participation in government.

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"Unlike the Labour Party we would not enter into a situation where we were in government for the sake of it," she added.

The election, she said, was about delivering change on issues like health and housing, abolishing water charges and the tax on the family home.

Michael O'Regan

Michael O'Regan

Michael O’Regan is a former parliamentary correspondent of The Irish Times