The Government’s “cack-handed mishandling” of immigration has caused “angst and division” across Ireland – and some of that has been aimed at Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald has said.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, the Sinn Féin President said her party’s poor showing in the recent local and European elections was the result of voters telling her party to “shape up” and “shake a leg”.

She said voters also directed some of their frustration with Ireland’s current immigration policies at Sinn Féin.

“I think certainly the Government's cack-handed mishandling of this has certainly caused unnecessary division and certainly some of the angst and the ire of that was directed at us by people who were frustrated,” she said.

“By the way, not by raving racists – far from it.

“Just by people who were frustrated and saw chaotic [policies] and a lack of any kind of proper planning on the part of Government.

“So certainly, that was an issue but I mean, we have set out our own stall very, very clearly on the matter.”

Mary Lou McDonald speaks to media at the RDS count centre following the local and European elections, 09-06-2024. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Following the local elections, Sinn Féin launched a new immigration policy that called for an audit of all local services in a community, including health, housing, transport and education, before any new asylum seeker accommodation is placed there.

This morning, Deputy McDonald said she ‘disagrees fundamentally’ with those who have warned the plan would set too high a bar for communities making it difficult to open new accommodation in most areas.

“What we have said, very clearly, is, in communities where kids go to community projects and eat as much as they can on a Friday because they're not sure that they're going to be fed the following Monday, in communities where you don't have to be a genius, you can walk in and you see the level of deprivation and stress, those are not appropriate sites for centres for another cohort of vulnerable people who need a lot of support and a lot of resources,” she said.

“That, to me, is just a matter of common sense.

“There are 4,000 schools, approximately, across the State. Of those, 1,200 are DEIS designated. How does the State make that distinction?

“They make that distinction because we have data, information and evidence that tells us very clearly where those communities are that are frankly, on their knees - that are stretched beyond stretching.

"As a matter of good common sense and practicality, you don't place further strain on a further cohort of vulnerable people who need to be protected and supported in those communities.”

Immigration

She said “any responsible government” should carry out an audit of a community before placing new strain on services.

“Any responsible government has to then go and engage with the community, not to afford anybody a veto, but to actually have the conversation, to answer the queries and to listen, listen, listen to get it right,” she said.

“This Government has abjectly failed in doing any of those things and consequently - and I say this with deep regret - it has caused angst and division where there was no need for that.

“Where with a bit more thought, a little bit more cop on as well, much of that could have been avoided, in my strong opinion.”

Opinion polls

A new opinion poll published yesterday suggested Sinn Féin had dropped two percentage points, while Fine Gael has made gains in recent weeks.

The Business Post/Red C poll put Fine Gael five points clear on 23% - five points ahead of both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin on 18%.

Deputy McDonald said her party got a “very clear message from the people” at the local elections and has been working to show people that a Sinn Féin Government is a “very, very different” choice to one led by Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.

“In the summertime at those elections, we got a very clear message from people,” she said.

“They were telling us to shape up; shake a leg.”

“If I were to boil it down, I think, in 2020, people were very invested in change.

“We talk all the time and a lot about change but in truth, in the years that have followed, the housing crisis has deepened – people haven't seen or felt the change that we talk about.

“So I think there was a bit of impatience around that.

“I think there was maybe a thought process that, you know, this old canard that ‘sure they're all the same’ and I think we had to work on making it clear to people again that it actually matters – that there is a political choice.

“It matters who you support and who you vote for, because depending on that, the outcomes for you and for your family and for your community will be very, very different.”

She said her party has worked hard over the summer to ensure it is “present and articulating the needs and concerns” of Irish communities.