Mary Lou has today taken on Jim Allister's negative attitudes towards migration from Romania and Bulgaria.

Jim Allister warned there would be a fresh flood of immigrants when Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union next year because of the open door policy the government operates towards citizens of other EU countries.

His comments were branded unacceptable by Mary Lou who said:

"We must embrace those who come to Ireland in the same way and at the same time work to combat exploitation and discrimination against migrant workers. The twin problems of exploitation of migrant workers and the displacement of Irish workers are ones which government, policy makers and the trade unions must effectively deal with. It is unacceptable that all across Europe worker is pitted against fellow worker based upon how little they are prepared to work for or the health and safety standards they are prepared to accept. Jim Allister`s insular and mean spirited views on the issue of immigration are consistent with his party`s inability to share power with nationalists and republicans in the six counties. The Irish experience of immigration has been overwhelmingly positive with migrant workers contributing to society and enriching the cultural fabric of the nation. Mr Allister should recognise this and support the free movement of workers across the EU whether they are Irish, British or Romanian."

I am glad to see Mary Lou taking a strong and crystal clear approach on this issue.

The full UTV report is here:

http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=76079&pt=n

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RIRA/CIRA not in my name "They are traitors to the island of Ireland” Martin McGuinness

"All people are entitled to full cultural and social equality" Mary Lou McDonald

"Republicans recognise that we have a journey to travel in developing our own understanding of unionism." Gerry Adams

But she supports "equality" and an "all-Ireland approach", right?

Please say yes, because I don't think I could take the shock if she didn't

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"The IRA Army Council have a history of telling the truth. If they say they didn't do it, then I believe them" - Bertie Ahern, speaking after the murder of Det. Garda Jerry McCabe

She is certainly taking an all Ireland approach because Jim Alistair is a six county MEP. She also believes in an Ireland of Equals and indeed a Europe of Equals, as she says "whether they are Irish, British or Romanian."

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RIRA/CIRA not in my name "They are traitors to the island of Ireland” Martin McGuinness

"All people are entitled to full cultural and social equality" Mary Lou McDonald

"Republicans recognise that we have a journey to travel in developing our own understanding of unionism." Gerry Adams

Anything Mary Lou says should be treated as the crap it is. Do you honestly think that the majority of Sinn Fein's voters support an open-borders approach to immigration? I think not!

She is talking about within the EU lets be clear on that.

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RIRA/CIRA not in my name "They are traitors to the island of Ireland” Martin McGuinness

"All people are entitled to full cultural and social equality" Mary Lou McDonald

"Republicans recognise that we have a journey to travel in developing our own understanding of unionism." Gerry Adams

Oh, much worse than that surely?

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"The IRA Army Council have a history of telling the truth. If they say they didn't do it, then I believe them" - Bertie Ahern, speaking after the murder of Det. Garda Jerry McCabe

These are just personal attacks BarryW, which is not great on a political forum.

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RIRA/CIRA not in my name "They are traitors to the island of Ireland” Martin McGuinness

"All people are entitled to full cultural and social equality" Mary Lou McDonald

"Republicans recognise that we have a journey to travel in developing our own understanding of unionism." Gerry Adams

I'm sure you'll back us up when ROC next runs out of things to say and starts calling people names

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"The IRA Army Council have a history of telling the truth. If they say they didn't do it, then I believe them" - Bertie Ahern, speaking after the murder of Det. Garda Jerry McCabe

Correct me if I'm wrong Factual but I thought SF were against the EU?

How can you be against the EU yet for a Europe of Equals?

BTW if you and your Party do support that concept of Equality I take it you accept that Ireland, with a population of less than 6 million people, should have the power and influence within the EU that reflects our % of the overall population - in other words miniscule!

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COUNTRY FIRST

Well as Mary Lou has seen that the recent enlargement has had no downward pressure on MEP wages, she probably feels there's nothing to worry about from Romania or Bulgaria either