Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD has said that as we move closer to the unification of our country the voice of citizens in the north cannot be lost.

Ms McDonald was speaking as Sinn Féin’s newly-elected Westminster MPs met with their Oireachtas counterparts at Leinster House today.

She said that Sinn Féin MPs will continue to play a positive, constructive role in the work of the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, saying that the Committee has provided an important vehicle for all-island political matters to be considered.

She added that all MPs elected in Ireland should be afforded the opportunity to avail of speaking rights in the Oireachtas.

Teachta McDonald said:

“The recent Westminster election has seen Sinn Féin, once again, emerge as the largest party north of the border.

“Everyone who has been elected has been elected on a pledge to work hard for everybody, to work collaboratively, and to continue the forward march of progress.

“They will all provide strong, positive leadership and work to improve public services, people’s lives and livelihoods across the north and across the island.

“We now have really strong representation here at home in Dublin and in Belfast, and strong representation in London and in Europe.

“This is representation and political strength that we intend to use wisely, to use constructively, and to bring about the kind of progress and transformation that Ireland north and south so desperately needs.

“Sinn Féin is determined to build a constructive relationship with the new British government, and we have already met with the new British Prime Minister and the new Secretary of State.

“We will make our mark and make strong contributions to the political conversation internationally. Not least on the issue of Palestine and the ongoing Israeli slaughter there.

“After fourteen years of Tory rule, during which the Good Friday Agreement was undermined consistently and during which cooperation with the government here in Dublin was eroded, we look to a reset in relations with the Irish government and the northern Executive, where First Minister Michelle O’Neill will play her part in ensuring that relationships – north/south and east/west – are what they should be.

“They will continue to play a positive, constructive role in the work of the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement; a Committee that has provided an important vehicle for all-island political matters to be considered.

“In the coming years we must go further – ensuring that all northern MPs can participate in Oireachtas debates.

“As we move closer to the unification of our country the voice of citizens in the north cannot be lost, and so as to ensure that the development of all-Ireland policies and all-Ireland approaches to the issues we face becomes the norm.”