Sinn Féin will not re-run last week’s referendums if they are in the next Government, according to a senior member. 

Speaking on The Hard Shoulder today, Sinn Féin TD and finance spokesperson Matt Carthy said the party had no plans to re-run the failed referendums in the future. 

“We will not be re-running this referendum in the next Government,” he said. 

“It won’t be on our priority list at all... we have very important things that require to be changed in this society, above all housing and the need to reform our health services.” 

When launching Sinn Féin’s Yes-Yes campaign in February, leader Mary Lou McDonald said the party would re-run the questions with the wording proposed by the Citizens’ Assembly if it was elected to the next Government. 

She said the party was supporting a Yes-Yes campaign "on balance”, something echoed by Deputy Carthy today. 

“We got it wrong, quite simply,” he said. 

“We're wrong because the people are always right, and the people told us emphatically what they think of this proposition. 

“We have to reflect on that, we have to listen to that and above all, we have to respect it.” 

Sinn Féin stance on referendum

Deputy Carthy said “nobody foresaw the rejection”, but insisted he and others in Sinn Féin thought the Government “were running a bad campaign”. 

“The Government did not collaborate with in anyway with the opposition,” he said. 

“They were determined and insisted on putting a rushed vote to the people with wording that didn’t reflect [opinion].” 

A ballot paper is seen marked during a referendum vote count at the RDS in Dublin in May 2018. Picture by: RollingNews.ie / Alamy Stock Photo

The Finance spokesperson also noted the No arguments from people with disabilities and carers. 

“It was very clear there were important voices in that community that this language not only did not reflect what they wanted, but it actually excluded them,” he said. 

“I think that was a defining factor for many people.” 

The Family and Care referendums saw an overwhelming rejection this weekend, with 68% and 74% voting No respectively. 

Exit polls from The Sunday Independent suggested a lack of clarity and opposition to or distrust of the Government were major causes for rejecting both proposed amendments. 

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