Insults flying as FF and SF declare war

Martin claims he was called a ‘low life’ as deal now looks remote

SINN FÉIN and Fianna Fáil traded bitter insults in the first day of the new Dáil yesterday, with Micheál Martin alleging he was called ‘a low life’ for highlighting the IRA-Sinn Féin child-abuse cases.

It got so heated between the two sides that Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan, had to appeal for calm.

The Fianna Fáil leader shut the door on any prospective coalition talks with Sinn Féin by launching a stinging attack on the party in his closing remarks after a vote on finding a Taoiseach.

Mr Martin cited what he said was ‘anti-Semitism’, ‘bullying’ and the glorification of the Provisional IRA by Sinn Féin.

Mr Martin raised the case of murdered Paul Quinn, whose parents, Breege and Stephen, have been campaigning to have Sinn Féin’s Northern Finance Minister apologise for saying their son was involved in criminality 13 years ago.

‘I don’t think Breege and Stephen Quinn should have had to wait 13 years for an apology,’ Mr Martin said.

He also said that he was called a ‘low life’ when he highlighted the high number of IRA child-abuse cases, saying that when they were proven to be true, Sinn Féin ignored them.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald received the most votes in the race to become Taoiseach but, as expected, there was no winner in this first round of voting.

Responding to Mr Martin’s criticisms Ms McDonald said: ‘I see we still live rent free in Micheál Martin’s narrow and bitter mind.’

Hitting back at the Fianna Fáil leader Ms McDonald referenced the infamous Fianna Fáil Galway Races tent which was used to court big business and made a further claim about one of his former Cabinet colleagues. It was believed she was referring to Ray Burke, who was jailed for tax evasion.

Ms McDonald said the people voted for change but that the old guard of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continue to cling to power.

‘Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have run the show for almost a century and by Christ they’re not minded to let go,’ she said.

Ms McDonald described Mr Martin’s references to legacy issues in Northern Ireland as ‘desperate’ in a speech that resulted in resounding applause from her party colleagues.

‘If you keep reaching desperately to the past it says you’re not up for the future. I hope that you will change that position,’ she said.

However, she also extended an olive branch of sorts to Mr Martin as she continues to eke out support for a coalition government.

‘I care less what he thinks... what Deputy Martin thinks of Sinn Féin. We could all extol the past… but that gets us nowhere.

‘I think we need to talk to each other,’ she said.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan sought to bring calm to the atmosphere within the chamber.

‘Let’s not engage in conversation that is hostile because I don’t think it is good for our people. We need to dial it down,’ he said.

Fine Gael leader Mr Varadkar reiterated his belief that the onus was on the left-leaning parties to form a government.

Mr Varadkar left the door open to forming part of the next government: ‘If we are needed to give stability and coherent government we’re willing to do that,’ he said.

The leaders of the four largest political parties – Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Eamon Ryan – were nominated by their respective parties for the role of Taoiseach. Mr Varadkar received 36 votes, Mr Martin received 41, Ms McDonald 45 and Mr Ryan 12.

After the vote, Leo Varadkar went to Áras an Uachtaráin to deliver his resignation to President Michael D Higgins. Mr Varadkar then flew to Brussels for an EU Budget meeting.

There were few surprises in the vote, with voting intentions made clear in advance on which way parties and independents would vote.

The only surprises came from Independent TDs Cathal Berry, Michael McNamara, Noel Grealish voting for Fianna Fáil leader

‘Extolling past gets us nowhere’

Micheál Martin. Independent TD for Galway East Sean Canney voted for both Leo Varadkar and Mr Martin and joked that he supported a ‘rotating Taoiseach’ arrangement.

Apart from receiving the expected backing of her 37 other Sinn Fein TDs Deputy McDonald also secured the backing from all five of Solidarity People Before Profit’s TDs and three Independent TDs Catherine Connolly,

Thomas Pringle and Joan Collins. The Social Democrats abstained from the vote saying it would be ‘meaningless’ to support a Taoiseach that had not indicated who they would form a government with or what programme for government they would be perusing.

The Dáil has now been adjourned for two weeks and will resume on March 5.