Taoiseach asks how "high-ranking Republicans" dictate to elected Sinn Féin



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Leo Varadkar (Michelle Devane / PA)
Leo Varadkar (Michelle Devane / PA)
Mary Lou McDonald (Brian Lawless / PA)

John Downing

  • Taoiseach asks how "high-ranking Republicans" dictate to elected Sinn Féin

    Independent.ie

    Taoiseach Leo Varadkar asked directly if Mary Lou McDonald was led by "high-ranking Republicans" in her role as leader of Sinn Féin.

    https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/taoiseach-questions-how-much-senior-republicans-dictate-to-sinn-fins-politicians-37575200.html

    https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/article37570969.ece/3357a/AUTOCROP/h342/ipanews_6e60a7fd-0667-4211-a4d0-311e4bbcc3078_embedded239883383

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar asked directly if Mary Lou McDonald was led by "high-ranking Republicans" in her role as leader of Sinn Féin.

The comments were made during brief discussions on the Dáil, during which Fianna Fáil's leader, Micheál Martin, and Taoiseach also criticized Sinn Féin for failing to give a nationalist voice to the North during the Brexit crisis. .

The Taoiseach said that it had followed the work of the Northern Ireland Inquiry into the so-called "money-for-ash" ploy, which had resulted in the collapse of the government of Belfast in January 2017.

Mr Varadkar said he was surprised to learn that Sinn Féin had a bigger role to play than expected. Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, Minister of Finance of Sinn Féin in Belfast, highlighted the emails discovered during the investigation.

The Taoiseach stated that Mr. Ó Muilleoir had, at one point, sent an e-mail to "Ted Howell", who held no elective office, asking for permission to sign a business plan related to the heating system before wednesday.

"This is documentary evidence that Sinn Fein ministers seek the approval and consent of the" senior Republicans "when it comes to making major decisions within the government," Varadkar told the Dáil.

"I'm just curious as to whether MP McDonald would like to comment or develop this, and perhaps inform us of the extent to which she and her witness bench need the approval of the most advanced Republicans to be able to take decisions, "added Taoiseach.

The head of Sinn Féin said the Taoiseach should wait for the full report on the controversial heating project in Northern Ireland to be published. She stated that this would register "the central role of the DUP in the case".

"At this point, you can make an informed badessment," said McDonald.

Ms. McDonald accused Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil of "playing politics" with the current problems of the North and stated that the government had an obligation, under the Good Friday agreement, to continue to do so. to be impartial. She also said that Sinn Féin continues to represent the people of the North, unlike the other two parties that are confined to the Republic.

"There is a split in the executive over Brexit. DUPs are pro-Brexit, "said McDonald. She added that the party was ready to try again to establish power-sharing in the North, and was very disappointed at the failure of a virtual agreement with the DUP last February.

Martin blamed Sinn Féin for failing to win his seven seats in Westminster, with Ireland facing the biggest economic challenge of the past 40 years. The absence of a government and a parliament sharing power in Northern Ireland left the North speechless. He added that Sinn Féin was more involved in "cash for ash" than we had previously thought.

The Taoiseach said Sinn Féin's absence from Westminster was more than parliamentary figures for a crucial vote for next month. He added that there was no one in Westminster to express the will of the Northern majority, including farmers and business leaders, opposed to Brexit.

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