Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Of course I want to be Taoiseach, I’ll not settle for second prize as Tanaiste
Sinn Fein chief reveals hopes of becoming first female leader of Ireland
know there was Mills & Boon in the Dail, how interesting.”
She expressed surprise when the Mirror pointed to the burgeoning political romance between the leaders of the two parties and said it was a good thing they could now work together on certain issues.
Before addressing the very real possibility of a possible alliance in the near future, Ms Mcdonald said: “Listen, politics moves on, some things are constant.
“We’re a republican party, we’re United Irelanders, we’re people who are all about social justice.
“Our party is still in transition, we’re still changing, we’re a different generation of politicians and political leaders so of course the dynamic changes.
“Wouldn’t it be an extraordinary thing if it didn’t, you know what I mean?
“I have to say, in acknowledging the vast differences between us [Mary Lou and Leo Varadkar] and between our parties, I think it’s a good thing.
“I think it’s good that where the stakes are high people can work together.”
This Sinn Fein that is now working with Fine Gael on substantive issues in the Dail is a very different one to the one that was around a quarter of a century ago as the Troubles were coming to an end.
Ms Mcdonald also admitted there had been a changing of the guard and that the party is now very different to the party of the 1990s and early 2000s.
She said: “Absolutely, of course, that’s not just true in the South, that’s largely true in the North as well.”
Even though some of the grassroots were around and some were members of the IRA during the Troubles, Ms Mcdonald added they do not feel betrayed by the leadership. She said: “The grassroots drive and select and rally around their leaders.”
The ultimate aim for the party has long been a United Ireland and Ms Mcdonald is adamant that day will come.
She said: “I think we can and we will all see it in our lifetimes.
“But I also know it’s not going to happen by being passive or by just being a spectator.
“I also know it needs to happen democratically and I, also as leader of Sinn Fein, want to see it happen in a way that maximises consensus.”