Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has contacted the leaders of the Labour Party and the Social Democrats to speak about government formation.

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Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is in contact with the Social Democrats and the Labour Party following the General Election. Announcing the news in a statement on the Sinn Féin website on Monday, TD Eoin Ó Broin confirmed that she had begun talks with fellow party leaders.

Outgoing coalition partners Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, however, claim they are well placed to return to power following Ireland’s General Election.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said that even without all the votes counted, there is a clear sign the people want change.

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Friday's vote is "an historic opportunity" to elect Ireland's first female prime minister, Ms McDonald says, and should that happen, she plans to put reunification at the heart of government, with a referendum by 2030.

Mary Lou McDonald (55) has been the leader of Sinn Féin since February 2018 and a TD for Dublin Central since 2011. She succeeded Gerry Adams as leader, who had been at the helm of the party for 34 years.

SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has been re-elected in Dublin Central. She was elected on the third count at the RDS this evening with 7,388 votes. Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe (5,590) looks set to take the second seat with Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats (4,