Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has stated that her party did not adequately address voter concerns regarding immigration and its management. "We heard that message. We put our hand up to that," McDonald said, emphasizing the need for a "clear rulebook" on the issue. She acknowledged that the party had not been "loudly enough" challenging the government's handling of asylum and immigration.
McDonald announced a new party policy position that would tie the number of visas issued to foreign workers to the availability of housing in the area where the employer is based. "Any responsible government has to have in their line of sight all of those matters when they calculate how many permits any particular sector might be allowable, how you manage student visas, and the whole range of other elements of that policy," she stated.
Mcdonald has previously faced criticism for perceived ambiguity on the immigration issue, attempting to appeal to different voter segments. The party has stumbled in recent elections, with some commentators suggesting its stance on immigration has alienated voters.
Mcdonald, however, declined to specify if Sinn Féin would support an overall cap on immigration or a reduction in asylum seeker numbers, asserting that such numbers are largely determined by needs. She described the core of international protection as a matter of "proper management" and an approach that is attentive to communities. The party's justice spokesman, Matt Carthy, rejected the notion that the policy shift was a move to the right, instead characterizing it as "sensible public policy" that balances the needs of incoming individuals with societal cohesion and the state's capacity.
Social Democrats justice spokesman Gary Gannon commented that while the immigration system can be improved, he saw no announcement that bettered the system, only a hardening of its rhetoric for those affected by its failures.