Micheál mocks SF

MICHEÁL Martin has accused Sinn Féin of having a ‘sense of entitlement that somehow Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael owed’ them power. Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, the Fianna Fáil leader also criticised Mary Lou McDonald for a Sinn Féin ard fheis speech that he said was ‘flat’.

MICHEÁL Martin has accused Mary Lou McDonald of having a sense of entitlement to power.

He also claimed the Sinn Féin president’s address to her party ard fheis on Saturday evening lacked substance.

Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, the Fianna Fáil leader said she had given a ‘flat speech’ adding: ‘There [were] no radical proposals or solutions contained within the speech. And there was a sense of entitlement that somehow Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael owed Sinn Féin power.’ Mr Martin said that there was a sense ‘that Sinn Féin and Fine Gael are all talking about power, getting into power, and not focusing on the key issues’.

Ms McDonald addressed a range of matters at the ard fheis, including homelessness and the CervicalCheck controversy. Sinn Féin has decided against tabling a motion of no confidence in Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy before the Dáil summer recess. Fianna Fáil’s confidence and supply arrangement with Fine Gael is nearing the end of its originally agreed period. On Saturday, Ms McDonald said her party would not be excluded from government by Mr Martin or Leo Varadkar.