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A SINN FEIN motion, which states that the party’s only objective should be to form a “broad left-wing government comprising parties and independents of a similar political ideology”, has been amended ahead of the party’s Ard Fheis today.
The original clár published this week shows the original motion was put down by the Templeogue/ Terenure cumman.
However, Pearse Doherty said this week the branch which proposed this motion has agreed to accept an amendment from Ard Comhairle.
The amended motion now merely states that the party should attempt to form a government after the next election.
The change to the motion clearly shows that party headquarters would prefer to keep the door open to talks with other parties – such as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – following the next general election.
The Donegal TD said his party want to “go in and lead a progressive government”.
He said they would like to be the largest party in government, but said Sinn Féin is prepared to “step up” and talk to all independents, small parties and large parties.
Getting cosy
In recent months, the new party leader, Mary Lou McDonald has been accused of “cosying up” to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Gone are the days when the pair would heckle one another from across the Dáil chamber. Instead, there are cordial exchanges, even polite remarks and compliments swapped between the two leaders.
Despite, McDonald calling Varadkar “smarmy” in one recent interview, the Dublin TD told this publication recently that she is open to work with anyone.
Even ‘smarmy’ guys?
“Can I work with a ‘smarmy’ guy?” she returns our question.
“I mean can he work with a ‘cranky’ woman – these are all the questions of our time,” she joked, referencing a comment made about her by Leo Varadkar in the Dáil.
“I am going to fight for every vote, every seat we can get and I will talk to everybody. I think that is the right thing to do,” she told TheJournal.ie.
However, despite the motion being amended this weekend to leave the door open to the likes of Fine Gael, Doherty does not have confidence in any of them, it would seem.
No confidence in Fine Gael
“We have no confidence in Eoghan Murphy. We also have no confidence in Simon Harris, we also have no confidence in Leo Varadkar – we are not the party keeping this government in place,” said Doherty, clearly pointing to Fianna Fáil, a party that has categorically ruled out going into government with Sinn Féin in the future.
Another motion to be voted on today notes that other minority partners in government have suffered losses (most recently, the Labour Party, which fell from 15 seats to seven).
It states these parties “abandoned their principles in favour of short-sighted gains”.
This is the what Sinn Féin will be cognisant to avoid in the uncharted territory it might itself in – government formation negotiations.
Since the last election, the party has faced criticism that it would not even entertain the notion of talks with other parties in relation to forming a government. Sinn Féin maintain no one would speak to them.
If they face down that criticism, get down to talks and do enter as a junior government partner, the party will have to strike a balance.
It will have to be seen to fight for its key causes and principles, and not be rolled over by the larger party. However, the party will also have to prove that it is capable of leading – that it won’t pull the whole show down over an arbitrary issue.
It would be a difficult balancing act.
If Mary Lou wants to be “Tánaiste” or “Taoiseach Mary Lou” (which she recently said had a nice ring to it) then her party might be wary of removing lines which reference their “left-wing” ideals.
Sinn Féin will need to ensure its supporters don’t think the idea of the “left” has been totally removed from the party’s ideals – otherwise it could be waiting another five years for an opportunity.
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Given their non existing relationship with the left parties this is just another ploy to stay in opposition and contribute nothing as usual and cream the state for all they can get .
A quick look to Dublin West left in the last GE will show the toxic attitude SF have for other left parties
But work away Mary spout the populist sound bites that the SF spin want out there ;)
@Gordon Hughes: correct. They have no intention of going into power. They would ruin the country and its international standing.
@Michael Powell: 100% .They would ruin this country economically to create a welfare state and also ruin our international standing for their own goals
You’re both full of $hite
@Joe Phillips: thank you for your insightful and indepth contribution Mr Troll .
As if FG/FF have done a marvellous job
@Nigel Hayden: Nobody here has said they have ?? Just because somebody posts a negative comment about SF it doesn’t automatically make them a fan of FF/FG . Try think outside the box somethimes
@Gordon Hughes: I agee 100% they have no intention of going into power whatsoever. They know all the BS they are spouting is completely unworkable and unrealistic and if they were to get into power they would be founf out.
@Dermot Dinan: They’ve promised free education, free housing, living wages and many more things, the only way they can pay for all of this is to increase taxation, they’ll ruin foreign investment and drive out foreign comapanies . Leaving it all on the workers to pay for . Leaving the workers with even less than we have now . In short SF ate an economic disaster waiting to happen to ireland . Much worse than weve seen already .
At some point you have to grow up and work with the rest of the adults. Good move from Mary Lou.
@Dan: In my opinion, she is the best politician in Ireland. Just a shame she’s SF.
@Peter Cavey: I’m no fan of any party (except may SDs) but it’s definitely a good thing she’s not with FFG
@Peter Cavey: I agree Peter. Not much competition though.
@Peter Cavey: She talks a good fight but when called to take action within party – she immediately turns the army council for advise and has been aided by RTE journalists to prevaricate when honest answers are required especially re bulling within her party. SF are not left wing as all their TDS and reps are well off.
@Dan: Bearing in mind how a coaition with FG destroyed Labour credibility, SF should rule out any future coalition with FG on the basis of incompatible policies.
Doesn’t matter what Provisional SF say, as no normal party will touch them
@Stephen Kearon: I hope you’re right, it’ll be a sad day the day we ever have SF/IRA in power in this country.
@Stephen Kearon: hypothetically, if a coalition was being formed and SF were the majority party, the rest of them would be tripping over themselves to partner up with them. Everyone has a price.
@Maria Hickey-Fagan: thats not hypothethical . Its absurd .
@Richard Keogh: the IRA have been in power loads of times in the dail.
@Stephen Kearon: LOL – fancy seeing YOU of all people on a Sinn Féin article, The Famous Fianna Fáil supporter was a special advisor to Dick Roche, the Same Stephen Kearon who charged way over the odds to run a website for the same party the same fella who had to withdraw from Fianna Fáil internal elections after his terrible twitter actions.
Fianna Fáil has now released a statement distancing the party from the comments.
It said his tweets “do not in any way represent the views” of the party, describing the comments as “totally unacceptable”.
How`re ye Stephen!
@Stephen Kearon: Hey Stephen Kearon, remember that time you stood for election for FF in Wicklow and got a grand total of 57 votes!! How unpopular can you be when even including family and friends, you can’t even get any more than 57 votes! Must be because you’re such a hate filled little man!
@Tír Eoghain Gael: at least stephen has the balls to to not hide behind an anon account . No fan of FF but he stands behind his beliefs and not hide behind troll accs .
@Gordon Hughes: Was thinking that too. Maybe TEG can upload his CV so we can critically assess his own contribution to northern Irish politics.
@Clifford Brennan: TEG is probably on these lads/women that has never had a positove contribution to anything he has ever been involved with. Abuse everybody, sling person insults all from the confort of an anon acc . In other words a spineless quisling
@Gordon Hughes: I could muster more than 57 votes all the same! Perhaps is Stephen hasn’t such a history of hate filled views, he could too. And as I’ve said before though, I have no problem telling anyone here my name. In all likelihood you still won’t know me from Adam so not sure what the benefit will be to you. And Stephen Kearons has a history of nasty, hate filled, abusive behaviour, so I don’t give a toss if someone calling him out on it does so under their own name or an anonymous nickname.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: i’ve come across stephen before and read his thoughts amd musings , But lets be honest for every SK the shinnerbots out number him and his bile 10 to 1. Faceless trolls hise their faces and names for a reason.No doubt you are no different .
They should set their terms for coalition as an end to water charges and Irish Water. Show the public that FF could have done so 2 years ago as the cost of propping up FG.
@The Risen: if we have a long dry summer and Dublin runs out of water we will regret dumping water charges.
@James Gorman: No we won’t. All the water charges were going to cover was the cost of the issuing the water charges. Our water infrastructure would still be exactly the same as it is now so please don’t peddle that nonsense. Also, the government could easily get people on board with water charges if they blocked off their planned route to privatise it later on, but the grubby little slíbhíns just refuse to give us that referendum.
I’m not going to cave just because the stubborn b@stards won’t. They will again come next election time though.
@Joe Phillips: the entire system needs an upgrade, what we have at the moment is substandard and out dated major pipes bursting all over the country but what we have will be grand cause how says so!
@Paddy: no denying that, Paddy, but that doesn’t change a word of what I just said.
@Joe Phillips: so should we increase taxes to fix the pipes or should we further neglect the housing issue or the health system to pay for upgrades. Typical shinner attitude of getting someone else to pay for it. T
@Michael Powell: We should first ascertain where all our existing taxes are going, Michael. We’re paying a lot of it as it is. The only problem is it’s not being well utilised. Let’s start by looking at TDs’ gold-plated pensions.
Then look at how many assistant they all have, at what salaries, and for what return. Then look at all the expenses claims.
Then, finally, start thinking about pillaging the general public again.
*assistants
Shinners run with the hare hunt with hound Marxist cowboys
Free housing for all, free healthcare, free education, open borders, feck all taxation too they would destroy this country in a flash I used to think that as just a FG FG Kind I’d statement but they are economic illiterate and a toxic brand who love George Soros
@Chris Hop: The country is destroyed as it stands, unless you’re one of the well connected. People are no more than cash cows for the rich under FG’s minority government.
@Dave Doyle: Yeah the rich are really creaming it in this country with marginal tax rates hitting 52%, some of the highest inheritance taxes in the world, business regulations coming out of your eyeballs. Still, look on the bright side, if the South Dublin socialist brigade had their way we’d be Greece right now.
This could be a good move if it plays out OK for Mary and if it does it would be great to see them then finally take seats up north and get on with government business. Who knows maybe even play politics and take seats in WM to fight for their citizens rights as they have been elected to do. I genuinely believe more can be achieved sitting at the table than abstaining and living in the wilderness.
@Phil Swan: if they go into govt they will have to abandon the no student fees and free houses for everybody policies.
So they won’t go back into power sharing with a right wing DUP?
Ever since the infamous 1977 Lynch giveaway election manifesto, this country has been steadily drifting to the left to the point that we now have a defacto centre left national government. No wonder Labour have been destroyed electorally – FG and FF have essentially taken their lefty policies! And now, Comrade McDonald, the Trinners radical who has managed to afford a mansion in Cabra(all on the average industrial wage), is telling us we need to go even further to the left into the lunatic socialist realm. What a crazy country – a centre left national government with the lunatic left as a political opposition.
If you’re still thinking of voting SF why not do some research on what socialism does to a country – how about starting with Venezuela? how about starting with Venezuela?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/world/americas/venezuela-oil-economy.html
@Brian Deane: Her husband works in Bord Gais, first as a gas control superintendent, then moved into the emergency dispatch division, He earns a very decent wage,
So your idea of her somehow getting this “Mansion” in any other way than how everyone else pays for a mortgage is simply you trying to muddy the waters and make something out of nothing.
PLUS the US sanctions on Venezuela is what is crippling their economy as they are frozen out of everywhere the US has it`s tentacles.
But keep floating your lies and innuendo like the slimy little FG lapdog that you are
I’m not sure this is the right move for SF. I just hope Mary Lou isn’t so desperate to get into power for power’s sake, become a mud guard for FG like the Labour party did.
If the intention is to fight hard to push SF policies, and she succeeds, then it might be worth it.
@Dave Doyle: I’d be less concerned about McDonald’s precious ego and a lot more concerned for the people of this country if people are subjected socialist slogan policies that have failed abysmally everywhere they have tried. See above link on Venezuela, oil rich country and victim of Chavez and Maduro socialist policies.
@Brian Deane: Venezuela are victims of the US sanctions policy , but that narrative doesn`t suit you at all does it?
Trump’s Sanctions Make Economic Recovery in Venezuela Nearly Impossible
The new financial embargo will worsen shortages, inflict suffering, and restrict Venezuela’s policy options.
@Pearse Mc Mullen: But isn’t the US the great Satan. Why would the great Bolivarian revolution need to borrow money or sell assets in the US. These very limited sanctions haven’t even been applied yet. The crack pot socialists Chavez/Maduro and his cronies are responsible for the starvation and ruin that has been wrought on Venezuela. Shame on you.
There isn’t a single success story for parties entering government as minority partners in a coalition. There never will be. The minority partner takes the blame for everything that goes wrong and gets wiped out while the majority partner gets the all clear within one election cycle in the worst case.
Oh dear
SF becomes a right wing party and will do anything to get into power
The sinn fein leadership are chomping at the bit to go into power with fine gael, after all both party leaders are so similar its uncanny. Both middle class private school educated who havent a clue what ordinary working class Republicans have went through and go through on a daily basis.
@paddy fox: just because you were born in a stable doesnt mean you are a horse.
If they really want to do some good then they’ll take their seats in Westminster and pull down the Conservatives!
@John Mc Donagh: much as i hate to say it their seats still wouldnt be enough to unseat the tories.
Get the ff/fg cartel out of power finally..
In other words. we will implement policies that will only benifit only the wealthy. SF are FF/FG in wolves in sheeps clothing.
Problem is that no one will go into government with SF/IRA.
All parties are leftwing till they get a sniff of power. Eamon Gilmour and the labour party springs to mind
They won’t go into government in the North . They are all talk no substance
@Patrick O Connell: they are doing what the nationalists in the north want an end to the loyalist dectectatorship. The will go back into power when foster and co realise they can’t continue to ignore the rights of the nationalists. As for taking their seats in Westminster they got voted in on their promise not to. Doing something a lot of parties forget about when they get into government.
@Patrick O Connell: we know why they pulled the plug and their voters support it. Equal rights for all what’s so wrong with that. Pressure should be put on the DUP to cop on and stop being dectators.
Gilmore for Taoiseach?Whatever happened to him?
@Pat.Frost: i would say happily retired
Surely another step in the developing friendship with the Blueshirts, they will come together to make a Government, Leo the Fool will do anything to stay in the limelight, but he may not be as popular as he thinks. The decent people of Ireland won’t forget his performance for all out abortion.
@Eugene Comaskey: go on and get back into your cave
Prediction – SF won’t do any better next time out. Their momentum was for change – no change being part of an established order who have left this county in debt to the tune of 200 billions and many social ills. Lost a lot of support by agreeing to be the junior party in any potential coalition.
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