’Ignore SF at your peril, Enda’

‘Ignore SF at your peril, Enda’

Michael Duffy

SHE is Mayo’s first Government Minister in over a decade and in her new-found high-profile position, Sinn Féin’s Caitríona Ruane wasted no time in issuing a warning to Mayo’s potential Taoiseach.
Enda Kenny was the last Mayo native to sit at a cabinet table, but Ms Ruane – a native of Swinford who attended secondary school in the county town – now sits proudly at the power-sharing table in Northern Ireland as Minister for Education. She was unveiled at a special party conference in Castlebar last Friday, alongside Mayo’s Sinn Féin election candidate, Gerry Murray, and both pulled no punches in letting Deputy Kenny know that he ignores the influence of Sinn Féin on the upcoming General Election at his peril.
However, Deputy Kenny, speaking in an exclusive interview with The Mayo News this week, re-iterated his unwavering stance of no negotiation in relation to forming a government with Sinn Féin.
“They are a registered political party, north and south. That’s their business, they will state their case, but I have made my position clear as far as dealing with Sinn Féin in the south goes,” said Deputy Kenny.
But, when questioned at the conference in relation to Fine Gael’s stance, Ms Ruane issued a warning to Deputy Kenny.
“I was part of our team that met Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte in Stormont and I think Enda Kenny is very aware of the importance of the peace process to the people of Ireland, and the people of Mayo. If he isn’t, he was left in no doubt after that meeting.
“This is a very historic time in Ireland and Enda has to be very careful that he doesn’t, and let me pick my words very carefully here, that he doesn’t underestimate how precious this peace process is to people in every corner of this island. Something very important is happening, and if he’s a serious politician he needs to listen it,” said Ms Ruane.
Cllr Gerry Murray maintained that, despite what Enda Kenny is saying, the grassroots of his party are indicating that they are ready to talk to Sinn Féin.
“At this moment in time, Fine Gael senators are calling me looking for my support in this election and those senators are quite adamant that they will do business with Sinn Féin. Enda Kenny may be saying he won’t do business but the grassroots of his party are coming to me and canvassing me for the Senate election.”
Cllr Murray also had a swipe at all those who had represented Mayo in Dáil Éireann over the last 30 years, claiming that it took the clergy to deliver Mayo’s most important piece of infrastructure – Knock Airport.
“The ultimate indictment of the political representation in the county over the last 30 years is that the clergy have had to give leadership because of its absence from both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Monsignor Horan did it and now Fr Micheál McGréil is doing it with the Western Rail Corridor. The fact remains that, even in the comfort of opposition, Enda Kenny won’t commit to the opening of the Western Rail Corridor in the lifetime of the next government.”
Sinn Féin’s Mayo candidate in the last election, Vincent Wood, who is now on Sinn Féin Connacht branch, believes Gerry Murray will get plenty of first preferences, and transfers, despite the stance taken by Fine Gael and in spite of a poor showing in a recent opinion poll.
“It seems that Michael McDowell and Enda are trying to ‘out anti-republicise’ each other because there are certain people looking for that. But our policies are all open to scrutiny, they will stand up to scrutiny.
“The reality is that there were over 11,000 people in Mayo who did not vote with the established parties in 2002. We were new on the scene that time but there was a lot of goodwill towards us. It didn’t turn into first preferences, but I believe there were a lot of transfers that didn’t come into play. I believe Gerry’s approach and demeanour will result in him getting transfers from all over the place.”