Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has encouraged Sinn Féin supporters to give preferences to the Social Democrats and People Before Profit-Solidarity; her first hint of her preferred coalition partners.
McDonald has stated she would “speak to all parties” when asked during the election campaign, but on the eve of the election, McDonald has called on her supporters to give preferences to fellow parties of the left.
Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit-Solidarity already sit together on Dublin City Council, with the three parties agreeing on a coalition before Labour and the Greens walked out in June.
A similar pact is in place on Fingal County Council.
At an event on Thursday, McDonald told reports “I think each constituency will differ, but I think we can identify parties like the Social Democrats which would share ideas on housing and other policies, People Before Profit candidates of the left, some other independent candidates.”
She added “I’m not making eyes at anyone.”
Wednesday’s poll from the Business Post showed Fianna Fáil narrowly in the lead on 21%, with Fine Gael and Sinn Féin tied on 20%.
The most recent Ipsos poll, which was commissioned by the Irish Times, has Fine Gael as the most popular party in Dublin on 21%, Sinn Féin on 18%, Fianna Fáil on 14% and the Social Democrats on 12%.
Independent/other candidates are polling on 34% in Dublin, per the Ispos poll.
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has said the party would insist on being given the Minister for Disability slot in exchange for their support, along with the full implementation of Sláintecare.
People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett has said the party would not back a government involving Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, but current polling has Fianna Fáil as the only realistic coalition partner for Sinn Féin.