SINN FÉIN is undertaking an extensive review of its economic strategy to address a policy weakness widely believed to have contributed to its poor general election campaign last year.
The opening day of its strategy meeting in Howth, Co Dublin, yesterday, was dominated by discussion of economic policies.
A strategy group, chaired by Louth TD Arthur Morgan, has been working on new policies since earlier this year and is expected to present its findings to the party’s ard chomhairle this autumn. Aspects of Sinn Féin’s new policy will be unveiled in the run-up to December’s budget.
It is expected the party will introduce the new policies in stages and not as a single comprehensive policy.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the party’s main Southern representatives presented the initiative as a major policy shift. Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said: “It’s not sufficient for any party of Opposition to snipe from the sidelines. The onus is on us to bring forward proposals. There are measures required to stabilise the economy, measures required to stimulate the economy and measures . . . to re-orient the economy over decades.”
The party’s Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that it was also establishing a committee to monitor cutbacks on public services as they affected voters.
“We have a Taoiseach who has no proven record of dealing with the difficult situation,” he said.
