FF and FG leaders' refusal to speak to SF is 'egotistical', says Clarke

Micheál Martin and Simon Harris's refusal to consider speaking to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald about forming a new government is “egotisical”.

That's according to local Sinn Féin TD Sorca Clarke, who retained her Dáil seat in Friday's election. She says that given the fragmented nature of the political landscape in Ireland today, the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should be willing to speak to Mary Lou McDonald and every other leader of the country's political parties, as well as independent TDs.

“I think there is a level of arrogance to it and I don't think it lands well with people out there.

“I would never, ever say to somebody, 'we will not speak to you'. It's not reflective of the type of politics that is going to attract new people into politics, and we want to attract new people into politics.

“It's also not reflective of the type of politics that people can relate to, and people want to be part of.

“If you look at our turnout figures in this constituency this year, they are very, very poor, 53-54%. I think we as politicians, and we as political parties, need to take a long hard look at ourselves and ask why it is that people are not coming out to vote.”

“...There is an absolute disconnect, and we need to work with people, particularly people in communities that don't see themselves reflected in the politicians that are there.”