Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD, speaking following a meeting of the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle which discussed the recent local and European elections results in the south, has said:

Sinn Féin had a disappointing outcome in the recent local and European elections.

Despite making slight gains, we fell significantly short of our own expectations.

The national leadership initiated a thorough review of the election campaign in all its parts to understand why. The review was comprehensive and honest. Today we have gathered to receive its findings, and to examine its recommendations.

Having listened to our party grassroots, and equally to the electorate, we will now take decisive steps to prepare for the upcoming general election, whenever it may be held.

We must define opportunities for families, workers, and communities that people can have trust and faith in again.

Our values – as a Republican party, are firmly of the left, committed to a United Ireland, and with an unwavering commitment to equality.

But we – and I as the leader of this party – must acknowledge that, for a sizeable section of our supporters, they believe we failed to have their backs and that we didn’t listen to their concerns.

It is evident that in the local and European elections, we lost trust, and we lost support.

I have listened, and we are going to go listen – every single day – to what those who rely on Sinn Féin are telling us. That has always been on of our big strength.

The most recent elections in the north illustrate what we can do when we are at our best.

In the local and European elections, we fell short of that standard.

We must do better, and we will.

We will do this by bringing clarity to the solutions we offer.

That means offering a crystal clear choice at the next general election – between another Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil led government, or a government led by Sinn Féin.

And by listening to the concerns of those we are proud to represent.

In relation to the family and care referendums, Sinn Féin got it wrong, and we must be big enough to admit that.

We did what we should never do. We settled for second best.

Many in our party, and many of those who support our party, rightly called us out on this.

We must be an unwavering voice for fairness, for decency, and for what’s right.

On the issue of immigration, we have also failed to reflect where most people are at.

Sinn Féin stands firmly against racism. So too do the Irish people.

We are a modern, European country with a strong economy. We depend on migrant workers in many areas of our society, not least our health service.

Everyone must be treated with respect, dignity, and in accordance with human rights standards.

This is not in dispute.

However, this State must have an immigration policy that makes sense to people. That is transparent, fair and that works.

At present, this is not the case.

We need a system that ensures applications are processed swiftly, has clear criteria for determining who can come here, whether they can work, and what support they may receive.

Sinn Féin will represent what people want for this country – for their families, children and grandchildren and their futures.

In our values, Sinn Féin is united with the Irish people.

Sinn Fein is committed, and I as the leader of our party am committed, to outlining our vision, priorities and policies to regain the trust and support of those who feel we have left them down.

I am committed to doing that, and we will.

I said at the beginning of this Dáil term that we would be the most effective Opposition in the history of this State.

That we must get back to.

To being a voice for good, and the voice for those who are not currently being heard in the corridors of power.