Ó Caoláin defends McDonald over cost of Australia flights

Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said deputy leader Mary-Lou McDonald would not have been directly involved in buying business class flights to Australia.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD said he never bought or read the Sunday Independent, which reported yesterday that party fundraisers covered the €10,000 cost of the flights.

Ms McDonald and Sinn Féin MP Francie Molloy went on an eight-day speaking tour across Australia visiting Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.

Asked about the cost of the flights on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, Mr Ó Caoláin said: “I have absolutely no idea. Whatever arrangements were made I’m sure Mary-Lou was not directly involved in making arrangements for her transportation.”

He said Ms McDonald would have had other matters to address. When asked if he thought it was an appropriate use of party funds, Mr Ó Caoláin said it would depend on the circumstances.

“I would imagine that her transportation arrangements would have been in part provided for by the host organisation or organisations in Australia and she may not have had any role or function in determining how she would go about her journey.”

Before leaving for Australia, Ms McDonald said she would be talking to Irish workers on temporary visas in Australia about their rights in the workplace, and promoting trade union membership among the Irish community.

“The tour will aim to engage not only with the thousands of young Irish people who’ve been forced to emigrate as a result of austerity policies, but also to build connections with progressive parties and unions fighting against austerity in Australia,” she said.