Posted by Ms McDonald said that individuals in the private sector making ‘huge level of profits’ from the International Protection Accommodation Service have left a ‘sour taste in people’s mouths’
SINN Fein has corrected a perception that it was “pulling its punches” over immigration policy, Mary Lou McDonald has said.
In the wake of last year’s local and European elections, Ms McDonald revealed that senior figures in Sinn Fein were “disappointed” with her engagement with the party’s base and that she needed to offer more clarity on its policies, including on immigration.
In an interview with the Press Association this week, she maintained that Sinn Fein had reconnected with its base and communicated a critique of Government’s immigration policy “that has been much more clear”.
She said: “I think there was a sense amongst a section of our base, they felt that we had pulled our punches, that we hadn’t named the failings of Government. I think we’ve corrected that.”
Ms McDonald said that individuals in the private sector making “huge level of profits” from the International Protection Accommodation Service have left a “sour taste in people’s mouths”.
“Nobody appreciates people profiting on the misery of others.
“Although they have never accepted it explicitly, I think there has to be some level of implicit acceptance by government that they made an absolute mess of this and to up to and including really straining social cohesion in certain communities – and I think Jim O’Callaghan has said that out loud.”
Ms McDonald said there had to be “respectful” and “democratic” discussion around immigration.
“To my ear, Jim O’Callaghan still sounds very much like a third-party commentator – which cracks me up. I mean, these guys are in Government.
“This is their job to run this – but he has, at a minimum, acknowledged issues around public confidence and social cohesion.”
Who Watches the Watchers? 