{"id":25540,"date":"2022-03-19T14:14:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-19T18:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25540"},"modified":"2022-03-20T11:17:29","modified_gmt":"2022-03-20T15:17:29","slug":"donaldson-accuses-sinn-fein-of-pushing-radical-all-ireland-agenda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25540","title":{"rendered":"Donaldson Accuses Sinn F\u00e9in Of ‘Pushing Radical All-Ireland Agenda’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Donaldson said Mary-Lou McDonald and Michelle O\u2019Neill should \u201cstop obsessing\u201d about a border poll (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The leader of the DUP has accused Sinn F\u00e9in of \u201cpushing a radical all-Ireland agenda\u201d during a speech to the party executive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said Mary-Lou McDonald and Michelle O\u2019Neill should \u201cstop obsessing\u201d about a border poll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He made the comments to the party executive and Assembly candidates on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCurrent polls suggest there could be a Sinn F\u00e9in Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland and a Sinn F\u00e9in First Minister of Northern Ireland after the next round of elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnyone who thinks the prospect of Michelle O\u2019Neill and Mary-Lou McDonald touring around London, Brussels and Washington pushing a radical all-Ireland agenda will be good for the Union, or help bring stability in Northern Ireland, is living in a fool\u2019s paradise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust look at this week. Whilst all of Washington and New York were hailing their Irish ancestry and focused on Northern Ireland, Sinn F\u00e9in were not promoting Londonderry as a place to invest, they were taking out half-page adverts in the New York Times and Washington Post claiming now was the time for a border poll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLadies and gentlemen, I have a message for Mary-Lou and Michelle O\u2019Neill and Nicola Sturgeon. Stop obsessing about a border poll and focus on what matters to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFocus on fixing our NHS, keeping our schools world-class, growing our economy, helping working families with cost of living and removing the shadow of the protocol from our politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is why this election is so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is why the DUP is focused on winning the election. That is why Unionism must stand behind the DUP on May 5.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donaldson also revealed the party\u2019s slogan for the upcoming Assembly election as \u201cMoving Forward Together\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is not about posts or titles,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about determining where Northern Ireland is focused. It\u2019s about who sets the agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about ensuring Northern Ireland moves forward, not backwards, and in the right direction, not the wrong one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNorthern Ireland will only move forward when we move forward together. Unionists and nationalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnionism will only move forward when we move forward together and remember who we are really competing against.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donaldson said that each voter will be faced with a \u201cstark choice\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBetween a positive vision for Northern Ireland \u2013 focused on the issues that really matter \u2013 or one centered on the chaos and division of Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s border poll plans,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHistory has proven that this party\u2019s success is Northern Ireland\u2019s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen this party is strong, Unionism is strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, in the days to come, let us collectively rise to the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s not be afraid to make our case on the doorsteps and let\u2019s seize the opportunity at this election to move forward together and ensure Northern Ireland moves in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul Givan resigned earlier this year as part of the DUP protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol, a move which also removed deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill from the joint office.<\/p>\n

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