Support for Sinn Fein ‘has come back very strongly’, Mary Lou McDonald says

Mary Lou McDonald has said that support for Sinn Fein is ahead of poll numbers which show her party and the two main coalition partners close to a three-way tie.

The Sinn Fein president said that over the past week an “energy” for the party had “come back very, very strongly” after slumps in support earlier this year.

She said it was reminiscent of the 2020 election when the party achieved a historic result.

A poll by the Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks indicates that Fine Gael is down four points to 22%, Sinn Fein is up two points to 20%, and Fianna Fail is also on 20%.

Aontu is up two points to 5%, the Social Democrats are down one to 5% and Labour has seen no change on 4%.

Meanwhile, the Greens are down one to 3%, Solidarity-PBP has seen no change on 2%, and Independents or other parties are up three points to 19%.

“I think the weather reflects our mood,” Ms McDonald said when asked about the poll on Sunday.

“You know, this might be a winter election, but we have sunshine today.”

Finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the polls confirmed the what they are hearing on the doors.

He said there were only two choices facing voters – to return Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to power or to vote for a new government, and Sinn Fein were the only party that could stop the two Civil War parties returning to power.

Ms McDonald continued: “I know talking to people, particularly over the last week, this sense of purpose now, this sense of energy, has come back very, very strongly.

“For us, this is very reminiscent of the last general election, where, when people had the space, cleared the space to assess what to do next, that appetite for change grew and grew, and I think that’s what’s going to happen.

“I think the polling results reflect that to some extent. But I actually think the mood is even ahead of those polling numbers, if I’m honest with you.

“We’re out on the ground. We’re meeting people. We’re picking it up everywhere and the people are ready for this historic change, and more to the point people are filled with dread at the prospect of five more years of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.”

In the 2020 general election, Sinn Fein cruised to its greatest ever Dail election, garnering 24.5% of first preference votes and winning 37 seats.

Despite topping the poll in several constituencies, it did not win enough seats to form a government and instead a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael coalition formed for the first time, along with the Greens as junior partners.

Speaking on Sunday, Ms McDonald said if Sinn Fein emerges as the largest party after Friday, it could form a government “for working people”.

She also called for people who were considering voting for an independent candidate to “think again”.

“Our proposition is to change the government, we can lead that effort – an independent candidate can’t and in fact, evidence of past elections reflects that in all likelihood, independents might, in fact, prop up Fianna Fail and Fine Gael together all over again.”

Asked about a drop in poll numbers for his party, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said it was always clear to him that it would be a “tightly contested, close” general election.

He suggested that national polls may not reflect the electoral battles in individual constituencies.

“I think the poll today shows my ratings as continuing to be the joint most popular leader in the country, but I don’t take that for granted at all,” he said.

“What I would say to the Irish people is this: we need, when the results are are out and the ballots are counted on Saturday, we need to be able to put together a strong, stable government, because we are living in very difficult and challenging times.”

He emphasised the importance of economic stability and on explaining how issues like housing could be improved.

He said the RTE leaders debate between him, Ms McDonald and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin on Tuesday would be important to speak to voters who had not yet made up their minds or who are open to changing their minds.

Campaigning efforts by all parties and independents across 43 constituencies are ramping up ahead of polling day on Friday November 29.

Aontu said on Sunday it was “the fastest-growing party” of the election campaign and has increased its number of target seats from seven to 10.

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman boarded the Luas Red Line to set out his party’s “red line” on public transport investment in any future coalition.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik launched the party’s “children’s charter” in Harold’s Cross Park, pledging that a second tier of child benefit, a guarantee of school places for children with special needs, and free GP care for children were “non-negotiables”.

People Before Profit pledged to expand the basic income for artists pilot to all eligible applicants and expand the definition of artists to include most forms of creative arts.

To fund 9,000 applicants would require an additional 109 million, it said.