Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has warned that the political and economic status quo is failing as anger over living costs and pressure on public services intensify.

Speaking at a Republican commemoration in Belleeks, Co. Armagh, marking the 50th anniversary of IRA Volunteer Peter Cleary, who was killed by the SAS in 1976, Mr Doherty said recent fuel protests reflected a wider crisis across society. "Across this island, people are struggling to make ends meet. Families are under pressure, workers are falling behind, and small businesses are being squeezed," he said.

"The recent protests were not just about fuel – they were about a system that protects wealth at the top while ordinary people carry the burden. When government acted, it was too little, too late, and left hundreds of thousands behind," Doherty said.

He argued that Sinn Féin offers a credible alternative in the South to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. "In the South, Sinn Féin is standing with people in their daily struggles and offering a credible alternative – an alternative government that will put working people and families first," he said. Turning to the North, he pointed to long-term underfunding and ongoing political disruption. "In the North, public services are under severe strain after years of austerity imposed by Westminster. At the same time, progress is being frustrated by those who seek to destabilise the institutions," he said. "Despite these obstacles, Sinn Féin is working every day to improve people's lives. But the reality is that partition and British Government policy continue to limit what can be achieved."

Doherty said this underscored the case for constitutional change. "The Good Friday Agreement was a peace settlement, but not a final political settlement. Increasingly, people recognise that lasting change requires Irish unity – and that conversation is now firmly in the mainstream," he said.

Calling for an active international role for Ireland, he added: "At a time of global instability, Ireland must stand for peace, diplomacy and international law. Nowhere is that more urgent than in Gaza. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people." He concluded: "Sinn Féin is focused on building a new Ireland – united, fair and prosperous – where wealth is shared, public services are strong, and every citizen has a stake in the future of our country."