No backroom deals, General Election now, says Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald

Speaking today as new Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar prepared to meet with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to broker a deal to elect Mr Varadkar as Taoiseach, Sinn Féin Deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said this process is an affront to democracy and a general election should be called immediately.

Teachta McDonald said;

“We have already had over a year of the Fianna Fáil farce of one foot in, one foot out of government. That resulted in the do nothing Dáil with Micheál Martin pulling Enda Kenny’s strings.

“This time out sees the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin preparing to elect his second Fine Gael Toaiseach, a man that has not received a democratic mandate to be Taoiseach.

“Even the membership of Fine Gael overwhelmingly rejected Leo Varadkar as their leader yet Micheál Martin is preparing to inflict him on the rest of us by making him Taoiseach next week.

“This behind closed doors backroom deal is no substitute for an open election.

It is up to the people to decide who will lead us in what are challenging and changing political times.”

ENDS