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? 
I’m serious. I’ve been thinking a lot about it. We need a party to represent all Irish people: wealthy, poor and in-between. Remove the poverty traps so employers can hire casual workers without having to juggle rosters to keep their hours down so they don’t lost social welfare benefits. Give all pensioners a decent State pension – including self-employed. Don’t force anyone to do a degrading Means Test or spend their savings. (At the very least revert to the old system where you only needed 10 years’ stamps – Heather Humphreys raised this to 40 years which is very cruel) Give politicians and senior civil servants the same pensions and salaries as nurses, carers, teachers, shop assistants and bin men; all are equally important for running the country. Fund pensions out of our natural resources: oil, gas, tourism… (Stop wasting time and money on windmills and battery cars; they’re bad for the environment, expensive and unreliable). Abolish PRSI, VAT and other barriers to spending & saving. Abolish tax on profits from investments; let everyone invest freely and improve their finances. Abolish property tax; it’s unfair and mean-spirited. Close the borders to anyone who is not going to be able to support themselves and anyone who will undercut the Irish workers; keep the Irish labour force happy and they will stay. Toughen laws. Lock up violent people and drug dealers for many years; make them work in prison (the Japanese use prisoners to make car parts – excellent idea). Give non-violent robbers Community Service and make them wear ankle tags. Lock up perverts and anyone who abuses children, the elderly, disabled people or animals. Ban blood sports and implement a trap-neuter-release programme to curb the number of foxes, deer, grey squirrels and other “troublesome” wild animals. Give every homeless person their own individual flat with their own front door, so they’ll never worry again about having to share a house with violent / abusive people.
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