Mary Lou McDonald
speaker
367 appearances
3 recordings
3 series
first heard May 2026
last heard 7 Jul
Mary Lou McDonald’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
Trend
recordings per month · last 12 monthsRecordings per month over the last 12 months — 3 in all, peaking in Jul 2026 with 2.
Appearances
But unionists were there as farmers, as hauliers, as business people.
And I can tell you this with absolute certainty, if the government in Dublin doesn't do its work,
and if the green paper isn't presented, if the spade work isn't done, if the assembly isn't called, well, then you're not going to have the type and the depth of engagement that we need with people across the board, including the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist communities, many of whom already, Matt, in different formats,
are engaging in this debate, and some of whom have been very, very clear in saying to us in politics, and particularly to those in government in Dublin, to Fianna Fáil and Finegha, that they want this conversation to be underway.
We had a fascinating presentation here in the Oireachtas about four or five weeks ago.
It was a panel from Ireland's Future, that big civic organisation that I'm sure you're familiar with,
the panel was entirely composed of people from the protestant unionist and loyalist community and to be honest with you they made to my ear what might have been the most compelling argument for preparation for dialogue for collaboration to inform the process of change that's now underway on our island and you know there will be no prizes for anybody who buries their head in the sand
The needs of this country are so great socially, economically, in terms of our infrastructure, and of course, the need absolutely to maintain democratic institutions that function and function well and serve us all.
and to protect our peace and to keep driving forward that journey towards reconciliation.
And preparation is about all of those things involving, by the way, everybody.
This isn't a Sinn Féin thing.
This is an Ireland thing.
This is about this nation and all everybody who lives here and who calls Ireland home.
I think a number of things.
I think firstly, if you look to British politics, maybe more correctly stated English politics, you see that the rupture and the chaos that followed Brexit is still very much in play.
That's not in the rear view mirror by any manner or means.
It's 10 years since Brexit and we're about to see the seventh British prime minister just in that 10 year period.
I think that reflects
the level of churn and some oftentimes chaos at Westminster.
I think anybody looking to the elections in Scotland and Wales can't miss the fact that for the first time now ever, there is a pro-independence First Minister in Scotland and in Wales.
Showing 41–60 of 367 · page 3 of 19
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