Local tds cross swords ahead of general election

Paul Neilan


A war of words has ignited between two republican TDs after a newspaper article claimed Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil could forge a coalition after the 2016 general election.
The terse exchange was sparked by ‘The Mail on Sunday’ story headlined ‘Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil ready to share power’, which quotes an unnamed senior source in Sinn Féin as the basis of the piece.
Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith dismissed the speculation, accusing Sinn Féin of an “anti-jobs policy”, that they had “sought to cover up a sexual abuse crisis” and that they were “anti-democratic” in behaviour. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin rejected the attack as “grossly offensive” and “beneath contempt”.
“I am very disappointed that Brendan Smith would resort to claims of a ‘sexual abuse crisis’ in Sinn Féin. This is patently unfounded and grossly offensive to me personally and to our membership. His claims are untruthful and below contempt,” said Deputy O Caoláin when contacted by the Celt about the Fianna Fáil man’s statement.

Ruled out
Deputy Smith, who is the parliamentary party chair, had said Fianna Fáil had ruled out Sinn Féin as an option in July.
“While individual TDs are obviously free to express individual opinions, the view of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party is settled on the issue of Sinn Féin. At a meeting of elected representatives last July we agreed that the economic platform and the behaviour of that organisation ruled them out as potential partners for the Fianna Fáil party.
“Fianna Fáil is a proudly pro-jobs, pro-enterprise, pro-opportunity party that has always worked to develop social cohesion and progress. Sinn Féin’s track record and stated policy objectives flatly contradict all those basic tenets.
“In addition, the behaviour of the party as it sought to cover-up the sexual abuse crisis within its own ranks and its increasingly anti-democratic agenda within Dáil Éireann all confirm the judgement of the Parliamentary Party when it ruled out Sinn Féin as a potential partner.
“Fianna Fáil will be fighting the next General Election on its own terms, putting an alternative vision for the future of Irish society to the people and taking that message to every community in the country. The Irish people have been betrayed by Fine Gael and Labour and they understand the danger of trusting an unreconstructed Sinn Féin,” his statement said.

‘Suffered most’
Deputy O Caolain responded: “Our economic policies are geared towards job creation and retention and the protection of the interests of those who have suffered most as a consequence of the failed policies pursued by this and former Governments, including those led by a succession of Fianna Fáil Taoisigh.
“Brendan is right when he describes Fianna Fáil as a ‘pro-opportunity party’. They have rarely missed one but always in their own interest.
“The electorate, of course, will decide the make-up of the next Government. I and my colleagues in Sinn Féin are well ready to take on the responsibility if the voters honour us with their support. We face the next General Election with confidence in the people and confidence in ourselves,” said Deputy Ó Caoláin.

‘Deplorable’
When contacted by this paper, Deputy Smith replied: “I strongly disagree with Deputy Ó Caoláin’s comments but my criticisms are not directed at him but the thing that is ‘beneath contempt’ is the deplorable manner the members of the provisional Republican movement in Belfast treated Mairia Cahill. Those answers are still awaited from those people and from their associates.
“I am very glad that in many instances generations of Irish people coming from families with very limited financial income obtained opportunities to better themselves and indeed society through the implementation of Fianna Fáil policies such as our very progressive policies over the decades.
“That’s what we mean by opportunities - the implementation of policies to assist the particularly worse off.”