Oireachtas

Mary Lou McDonald nonplussed as Taoiseach questions Sinn Féin’s porous stance on open borders

Taoiseach puzzled by Sinn Féin election literature that claims the party is opposed to open borders

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald: 'Anyone who says that Sinn Féin is for open borders is wrong.'

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Miriam Lord
Wed May 8 2024 - 21:44

Crumbs.

Talk about having your 32-county cake and eating it.

Sinn Féin is opposed to open borders. (But don’t look too closely into this doctrine because, like the aforementioned borders, it seems a bit porous.)

Don’t take our word for it – it’s printed in their election literature: “The Government has no plan for immigration. Their approach has been shambolic. Sinn Féin is opposed to open borders – Ireland, like every other country must have control of its borders.”

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These are the opening lines in the section headed “Immigration” which is highlighted in reverse type on the party’s local election leaflets.

So what about the open border between Northern Ireland and the remaining 26 counties? Is Sinn Féin opposed to that? And where stands the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK?

The party’s opposition to open borders is so strong that its spokesperson on social protection, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, made a video standing in front of Leinster House underlining this position.

But it’s not about closing borders. Or policing them. Or doing anything else other than opposing them.

Which it sounds good, reads well, doesn’t require action and will appeal to the growing number of voters presenting election candidates with difficult queries about the large number of migrants coming into Ireland each week, with the overwhelming majority now coming from the North.

They are travelling across an open border.

Or are they? When it’s neither here nor there because you don’t recognise it in the first place?

It’s confusing.

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When the Dáil returned on Wednesday, the Taoiseach was genuinely puzzled about where Sinn Féin stands on the border question. That was unexpected. Normally – and for long as anyone can remember – there was never any cause for doubt.

The confusion arose after he was questioned about the Government’s response to housing asylum seekers and, specifically, the second “tent city” proliferating along Dublin’s Grand Canal in the vicinity of the International Protection Office.

Simon Harris told Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, Labour’s Ivana Bacik, Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats and Rural Independent Mattie McGrath that he dealt decisively with the first encampment which was removed last week and he would do the same again with the latest one.

“I’m telling you now – we are dealing with the Grand Canal. Action will be taken.”

But he said “a broader discussion” is needed around the issue of migration.

“If it is just solely one about accommodation, we will find ourselves in a situation where we provide more accommodation and that accommodation will fill up.”

He called for honest debate because some parties in the Dáil are now talking about “not being in favour of open borders”.

And which open border on the island of Ireland does the Sinn Féin leader want to close, he wondered, because the subject never came up when he was in Belfast last week.

Mary Lou McDonald looked nonplussed.

The Taoiseach informed her that her party’s local election candidates “are delivering leaflets promising that it will end the open-border policy”.

“They aren’t, actually,” said Mary Lou.

Simon wondered if she might explain what the leaflets mean because as he has no idea.

The TD for Cork South Central was incensed. He wanted to correct the ‘factually untrue’ statement about what was in the leaflets

Mary Lou’s colleague Donnchadh Ó Laoighaire backed up her assertion that they do not pledge that Sinn Féin will end the open-border policy.

“It’s true,” shouted Labour’s Aodhán Ó Riordáin.

Whereupon the Taoiseach backed up his assertion. He directed the Sinn Féin leader to Donnchadh “the very fine deputy sitting beside you” who said in his video that his party is against an open-border policy.

The TD for Cork South Central was incensed. He wanted to correct the “factually untrue” statement about what was in the leaflets.

Simon Harris, through the shouting from across the floor, declared he was looking forward to a Dáil debate on our open-door policy because there isn’t one, apart from the one...”

And he was drowned out before he could say it is the one on the island of Ireland between the six and the 26 counties.

A noisy back and forth ensued between Donnchadh, who denies that Sinn Féin’s leaflet advocates closing open borders and Aodhán, who saw the leaflets.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know what’s going on here,” murmured mystified Simon. “Even the rest of the Opposition thinks it’s true.”

The Ceann Comhairle waded in and reprimanded Ó Laoghaire for being out of order. He can’t be accusing the Taoiseach of telling untruths.

“It’s not in order to tell untruths,” countered the Sinn Féin man, on his feet and angry.

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, in the mood for a scrap, told him to go back and watch himself in his video.

“You were in the video,” crowed the Taoiseach.

“You were in the video standing outside on the plinth,” spluttered Darragh as Donnchadh continued to protest.

“Was it AI generated?”

Never mind the video (which contains the same material as the leaflets). Deputy Ó Laoghaire just wanted to make clear that the Taoiseach’s statement that Sinn Féin candidates are delivering literature saying the party will “end open borders” is simply not true.

In the video, deputy Ó Laoghaire says: ‘Sinn Féin opposes open borders and advocates for a fair, efficient and enforced immigration system that respects the human rights of those fleeing conflict and persecution.’

Never mind the literature (which mirrors the video). “To assist the House,” Taoiseach Harris said he would rephrase his point.

“The Sinn Féin deputy sitting beside deputy McDonald appears in a video on the plinth offering to close open borders.”

“No!” cried Mary Lou.

“Not true either!” roared Donnchadh.

Technically, they are right.

On the broader picture, the Taoiseach is right.

He accused Sinn Féin of “trying to play to people’s worst fears” and said he just wants to know what open Irish borders the party is talking about.

In the video, deputy Ó Laoghaire says: “Sinn Féin opposes open borders and advocates for a fair, efficient and enforced immigration system that respects the human rights of those fleeing conflict and persecution.”

But where?

It was posted on Facebook a couple of weeks ago, attracting comments mainly of the “What took you so long?” variety. Some replies doubted the motives behind the “opposed to all open borders” statement.

“Changing your tune now you know people are against it” was one which triggered a response from Sinn Féin Ireland.

“Not true. This has been our position for decades.” Apparently it was in the last election manifesto and has always been clear at community level, in media, social media and on the floor of the Dáil.

Speaking after the party’s local and European elections launch in Dublin, Mary Lou McDonald was adamant. “Anyone who says that Sinn Féin is for open borders is wrong,” she said.

In the Dáil, Simon Harris wanted to know what this dangling principle actually means.

After the minor contretemps in the chamber, matters cooled down when a vote was called. Donnchadh signalled across to the Taoiseach and the two men met in the middle of the floor and had a conversation.

It would be safe to assume they agreed to disagree.

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