Mayo Sinn Féin TD 'disappointed' Fianna Fáil are determined to keep Fine Gael in power

Sinn Féin TD for Mayo, Rose Conway-Walsh has said that Fianna Fáil's determination to keep Fine Gael in government for almost 20 years is a 'disappointment to many'.

The Erris-based TD was one of 39 Sinn Féin TDs who sat in Leinster House for the new Dáil term yesterday where Independent Wexford TD Verona Murphy was elected as Ceann Comhairle.

Sinn Féin's proposal for Mary Lou McDonald to be elected Taoiseach was easily defeated with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael expected to form a new Government in the new year with the help of a group of Independents. It will mean that Fine Gael have been part of every government since the 2011 General Election.

Speaking following the first day of the new Dáil term, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh said that while it was disappointing that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will continue in power, she is more determined than ever to hold them to account.

“While hundreds of thousands of people voted for change, it is likely that we will not have the numbers to form a new government with the new approach that is so desperately needed.

“The reality that Fianna Fáil is determined to keep Fine Gael in government for almost 20 years will be a disappointment to many.

“That is because the real and lived damage, consequences and lost opportunities of Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael governments remain.

“There is no reason to believe that having caused a housing crisis and made it worse, having sustained a crisis in health, having failed to deliver for working people, that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have what it takes to straighten matters out,” she said.

Deputy Conway-Walsh topped the poll in last month's General Election in Mayo and 39 Tds is the highest number the party have returned to Dáil Éireann since the party abandoned its longstanding abstentionism policy in the 80s.

She pointed out that the election results show that the 2020 General Election was not a 'flash in the pan' and Sinn Féin will remain a political force into the future.

“I was elected to speak up for the people of Mayo and our team of 39 TDs returned to the Dáil are more determined than ever to represent the hundreds of thousands of people right across the state who voted for real progress and for a better future.

“Those voters wanted a major shift in direction from the government. They voted for Sinn Féin and for other parties who, like us, believe that politics must change. Their votes matter.

“And what this election confirmed is that 2020 was not a flash in the pan, no once-off, and that Sinn Féin remains a significant political force.”

She added: “So while the election may be over, the job of representation begins. I will stand up for people in Mayo impacted by the housing crisis, the scandal of Pyrite and demand that greater resources are allocated to Mayo University Hospital and other healthcare facilities, and I will continue to support families under pressure with the cost of living.

“I will hold the government’s feet to the flames on issues like the Western Rail Corridor, farm payments and the long-promised upgrades of the R312, N26 and N17 roads.

“Sinn Féin will fight for hope and opportunity for our young people who are leaving our shores for a better future, and we will plan to advance Irish reunification.

“My message to the people of Mayo is that Sinn Féin will continue to fight for you, to stand up for you, to have your back, to defend and advance the rights of working people, of families and our community to a life that is full of opportunity, hope, achievement, happiness, prosperity.

“That is a future worth believing in, a future worth working for and the future we can achieve.”