Mary Lou McDonald to consider role as Sinn Féin leader

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has said Gerry Adams acknowledges "nobody goes on forever" in a firm indication this may be his last election as leader of the party.

In an interview with The Irish Times, Ms McDonald has also put herself into the frame as a contender for the leadership when it arises.

She also strongly dismissed the view that she would not be sufficiently popular in the North to carry the majority of the membership.

With Arlene Foster succeeding Peter Robinson as DUP leader, Ms McDonald was asked if Sinn Féin would be going through a similar process.

“Gerry [Adams] is leading us into the campaign. He has the full confidence of the membership. He will fight a strong campaign in his own right as the leader of Sinn Féin,” she said, adding: “Nobody goes on forever. He acknowledges that himself. It will be a matter for him and for the party.”

So if a decision is made that he step down as leader, what would her position be. “When that happens I will consider that. We are fortunate that we have a lot of talented and able people. There will be other hats in the ring. Ultimately it is for the membership of Sinn Féin to make that call.”

Ms McDonald is completely dismissive of the view she might have difficulty convincing the Northern membership of her credentials.

“We are an all-Ireland party. Obviously I am a Dub. That’s how I carry myself. I have good interactions and a good working relationship with people in the North. I do not see that as an issue.

“I can see why they make the point. Gerry is a Belfast man and so forth. It will not be issue for me.”

Anti-austerity

Ms McDonald denied Sinn Féin has changed its message from one of anti-austerity in the past year. Anyone listening in the past six months will see that “Syriza” and “austerity” no longer feature in its language. Instead, the recurring phrase being used is “fair recovery”, an acknowledgement that growth is taking place.

She insists it has not changed its message, rather that the people who suffered during the hard times are continuing to suffer.

“There has been no major impact on the living conditions and on the lives of the majority of people.”

She does not deny recovery. “I absolutely accept that. There was a bit of good fortune on the price of oil and currency dynamics. Any bit of good news is good news and let’s accept it.

"What do we do in that scenario? Do we take the route of Fine Gael, with crocodile tears about the housing crisis?

“You can’t accommodate massive tax relief for higher earners while still providing essential services for those who need them.”

The Dublin Central TD has also argued that Sinn Féin in government would surprise many people, and would be "pragmatic and sensible". She dismisses the claim by its opponents that Sinn Féin in government would lead to chaos.

“The notion has been put around that it would be a terrifying prospect of Sinn Féin in government, a crowd of people who have lost our senses. We are pragmatic and sensible. We live here. This is our country.

“We are motivated by the common good. We have able and talented people who will take on big briefs and work very hard on them.”

Legacy issues

She claims the party’s opponents have attacked it on legacy issues (how the republican movement dealt with sex abusers; the Disappeared, violence) in a cynical manner.

“We have an absolute responsibility to deal with all the issues and the hurt that has occurred during the course of the conflict.

“In the last round of negotiation we were very close to agreement with the DUP on that, but disgracefully the British government put the kibosh on it.”

Asked was that not muddying the waters and spreading the blame, she said: "It is very challenging for us. Do we want to deal with it? Yes. We are not running away from it. No doubt around election time, some bright sparks in Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour will bring it up.

“I regard it at this stage as the worst of bargain basement cheap cynical politics and you can set your clock to it.

“They have no concern really for people who were hurt in the course of the conflict and every concern to exact damage on Sinn Féin.”

McDonald claims there is “not a whit of difference between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil”. But aren’t the Government parties presenting the battle ground as stability versus chaos?

“Anyone who examines the facts as to Irish society will not be convinced by Enda Kenny’s claims. It’s the chaos of Fine Gael.” So is Sinn Féin a party of high taxes? No, she insists.

“It is not the disposition of Sinn Féin to begrudge people with a big salary. All we ask is that they pay their fair share of tax. It is not a mechanism of vengeance.”

So is the party willing to go into government, and if so, what is it willing to compromise? “Arriving at an agreed programme for government is a process of give and take.

“It would be pointless to be there if we did not have an opportunity to deliver on the high-priority items. They are water tax and property tax, the funding and reform of the health system and investment in housing.”

But is that not setting the bar so high that Sinn Féin excludes itself? Her response is unequivocal. “I am involved in this because we believe we can make a difference.”