SF ‘could rule with Leo’, despite FG split fear
SINN Féin will talk to Fine Gael about forming a Government after the next election, it was claimed yesterday.
Party senator Rose Conway-Walsh said the party would ‘of course’ open talks with the main Government party.
Her comments come after Fine Gael junior minister Jim Daly said last week that he has no ideological objection to Sinn Féin being in government, adding that many of his colleagues were of the same view.
Fianna Fáil has accused Leo Varadkar’s party of ‘cosying up’ to Sinn Féin, prompting Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes to say an SF/FG alliance would split his party. And Fine Gael Senator Neale Richmond responded to Ms Conway-Walsh’s move by saying he would resign if it came about.
The Taoiseach added to the anti-Sinn Féin sentiment within his party on Friday by branding Mary Lou McDonald’s party ‘sectarian’. Ms Conway-Walsh told The Week In Politics on RTÉ yesterday: ‘We will influence politics in whatever way we can until such time as we get into government.’
However, Mr Richmond warned that he would leave Fine Gael ‘immediately’ if that happened. ‘I don’t think Sinn Fein are fit for government, they are a hard-left party who haven’t come to terms with their past,’ he said on the TV programme.
‘I would find the idea completely unacceptable, as would the vast majority of Fine Gael parliamentarians and ordinary members.’
Asked if it was possible the two parties would do business together after the next general election, Ms Conway-Walsh replied firmly: ‘Of course it is. It is up to the people. I think it is arrogance to be saying “No, we wouldn’t do that.” We will talk to anybody, we will support anybody who has good ideas. We have to put up with this Government until there is another election.
‘Of course we will support good ideas, of course we will support this Government if there is something in it in relation to Brexit if it is a benefit to the Irish people.’
Responding to the Taoiseach’s ‘sectarian’ accusations on Friday, Sinn Féin leader Ms McDonald said Mr Varadkar was reacting to the ‘measured comments’ of Minister Daly.
‘I would remind the Taoiseach that it is the people who decide who is in government and not Fine Gael. Sinn Féin in government will tackle the housing crisis, will give working families security and will invest in the future. Sinn Féin in government will deliver real change in politics and in the lives of citizens.’