Taoiseach Micheál Martin has strongly criticised Sinn Féin saying there is something deeply wrong with a party that has built its entire existence on honouring a campaign of violence but now attacks and sues anyone who claims that they supported particular actions within that campaign.
Speaking at the annual Theobald Wolfe Tone Commemoration, Mr Martin said anyone who sincerely believes in a republican vision should be appalled by the growing attempt to intimidate and shut down debate by one party, which he accused of refusing to accept the basic accountability accepted by everyone else.
He claimed that there is also a regular pattern of aggressive management of the media, which means that party spokespeople are withdrawn from “any place they might be asked questions and basic enquiries are not answered.”
The Taoiseach said: “this is many things – but democratic republicanism is not one of them.”
Mr Martin said that too few have been willing to undertake the basic work of questioning themselves and finding ways to build a shared respect across historic barriers over the last 25 years.
“There has been a lot of talk about unity and reconciliation, but very little work done to actually build the bridges which make it happen,” he said.
Reacting to the Taoiseach’s remarks, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “Instead of bizarre, fantasy attacks the Taoiseach would be better off focusing his attention on the spiralling cost of living crisis, a housing crisis that is worsening by the day, chronic health waiting lists, and the climate emergency.
“That would be a better use of his remaining weeks in office.”
Separately, the Taoiseach said the Government has listened to concerns about the concrete levy and the details of the proposal will be “fleshed out” in the Finance Bill next week.
However, Mr Martin said the principle of having the construction sector make a financial contribution to the cost of repairing defective homes would be retained.
It comes after a 10% concrete block levy was introduced in last month’s Budget 2023.
Taoiseach criticises SF, claims ‘media management’
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