McDonald: Sinn Fein is 'election ready'

Sinn Fein is "election ready", Mary Lou McDonald has insisted as she said the party will run more candidates "than ever before".

Ms McDonald said there is a "real sense of positivity and optimism" among the party membership as selection conventions continue in the Republic.

Speaking to reporters at the party's Ard Fheis conference in Athlone, the Sinn Fein leader said: "We're election ready, we look forward to the campaign and we're in it to win it."

Ms McDonald said the "stakes are high" for the national poll, adding: "We feel confident and we're ready for it because we believe passionately that there has to be a change of Government, that we can do so much better."

She said the party would seek to elect a representative in every Irish constituency, adding that it was hoping to win two seats in some electoral areas.

However, she cautioned: "We're not one bit presumptuous or arrogant about this."

Earlier this year, Ms McDonald announced that Sinn Fein had conducted an internal review after performing well below its own expectations in the local and European elections.

She revealed that senior figures in Sinn Fein were "disappointed" with her engagement with the party's base.

Ms McDonald was told that she needed to offer more clarity on its policies, including on immigration.

This week, ex-Fine Gael leader and former taoiseach Leo Varadkar said immigration into Ireland had risen "too fast".

Asked if she believed this was accurate, Ms McDonald said: "The population has grown - that's a matter of mathematical fact."

She said this occurred at a time of a pre-existing housing crisis and pressures on "stretched services".

"All of those Government failures were going to come home to roost - throw into the mix slow and bad management of the whole situation.

She added: "For a past taoiseach or the current Taoiseach (Simon Harris) to pretend they are not responsible for the crisis they have created really takes the biscuit."

Ms McDonald added that Sinn Fein had set out a revised immigration policy over summer.

"Immigration has to be manage with community, fairness and common sense at its heart. That hasn't been the case.

"The attempts by the Government to distance themselves from their own failures is very obvious."

More recently, Sinn Fein celebrated successes in the UK general election when it became Northern Ireland's largest party at Westminster level - in terms of both seats and vote share.

Ms McDonald said the party "made very substantial gains north of the border", adding that she was pleased that powersharing had been restored at Northern Ireland's institutions.

The party conference is focusing on housing, the cost-of-living-crisis, childcare, healthcare and the upcoming Budget on Tuesday.

On the topic of Irish unification, Ms McDonald said it is was not a sustainable position for the UK Government to rule out referendum provisions contained in the Good Friday Agreement.

Ms McDonald said governments in Dublin and London "can't continuously delay and dither".

"The referendums will happen."

She added: "The challenge for both governments is to prepare and have that inclusive, respective and mature dialogue that we have called for.

Speaking during a session on unification, Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said the recent change of government in London "offers an opportunity to improve Irish-British relations".

However, the First Minister for Northern Ireland reiterated: "The jury's certainly still out in terms of how (the Labour Government) will live up to their commitments set out in the Good Friday Agreement, because their actions to date demonstrate more of the same austerity and broken promises."

Ms O'Neill also introduced South Africa's deputy president Paul Mashatile address to the conference.

Mr Mashatile said the African National Congress was "indebted" to Sinn Fein, adding: "There are no ways to express our gratitude in the role you played in supporting us."

He said the ANC supported Sinn Fein in its "fight for the unity of Ireland".

Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland, also attended the conference in Athlone for a second year in a row.

To a standing ovation, she said: "From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you here today for the friendship, solidarity and support. Palestine will be free - justice for Palestine."