Sinn Féin to outline plan for cost-of-living crisis

The Sinn Féin Ard Fheis continues in Belfast today with the party expected to outline its plans to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and improve the health service.

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald will address delegates this evening, which will be televised live on RTÉ One, at 6.30pm.

Ms McDonald is likely to put the cost of living at the centre of her speech ahead of two Dáil bye-elections next month, including one in her own constituency of Dublin Central.

Last night, party Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty called for the immediate introduction of a mini-budget, saying the Government needed to act to help households.

Party members also voted last night to support a ban on fox hunting by a relatively tight margin.

This came after a lengthy and sometimes heated debate, which at one stage was stalled as Belfast's International Convention and Exhibition Centre had to be evacuated due to an alarm.

Sinn Féin Monaghan TDs Matt Carthy and Cathy Bennett spoke against the motion with Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan and Kildare North Réada Cronin among those to favour a ban.

Ms McDonald and First Minister Michelle O'Neill also met the family of murdered Derry GAA official Sean Brown at the Ard Fheis, saying after they "will continue to press the British Prime Minister to establish a public inquiry into Sean Brown's collusive and devastating murder without delay".

Delegates will also discuss proposals on building stronger public services and how to prepare for Irish Unity.

Sinn Féin headed into this Ard Fheis as Ireland's most popular party in opinion polls but still some way off its peak polling figure of 2022.

A recent poll also put the party at is lowest level of support in the North in five years - ahead of Stormont Assembly elections next year.

Michelle O'Neill told the delegates that progress in the Executive has been slower than she would like, and she said she shares people’s frustration.