Martin accuses Sinn Féin of policy U-turns at ard fheis

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said there are “very significant differences” on policy between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin when he was asked about a possible future coalition.

The Fianna Fáil leader accused Sinn Féin of being able to “flipflop, U-turn to an alarming degree”, including on whether to call for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.

He was speaking at the start of his party’s 82nd ard fheis, in Dublin, where he said the focus would be on the cost of living, public services and conditions facing farmers.

He said Sinn Féin was an anti-EU party and said “they don’t get the European Union”, accusing it of “antics” this week on the EU migration pact.

“As far as I’m concerned, we can’t go into government with Sinn Féin if it maintains policy positions like it’s maintained on Europe,” he said.

“I think we’ll consult with the remainder of the party as well, and I’m very clear that policy has to be the bottom line.”

Mr Martin also said Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Byrne was “ar mhuin na muice” or “on the pig’s back” over his appointment as junior minister with responsibility for the Irish language.

“Thomas is very happy to be minister for the Gaeltacht and I think there was a sense, we discussed this, because Jack Chambers had been minister for the Gaeltacht in that department of culture and the arts, sport – there’s a synergy there between the different issues,” he said.

Mr Martin also pushed back on comments made by the Israeli ambassador that recognising Palestinian statehood would “reward terrorism”.

Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich was not invited to the Fianna Fáil ard fheis this weekend, with Mr Martin saying it was an effort to make it clear the party is “not satisfied with what is going on in Gaza”.

Mr Martin rejected comments Ms Erlich made on Newstalk’s The Pat Kenny Show, in which she said it was not the “right time” and questioned why Ireland would “reward terrorism” by granting recognition to Palestine.

Mr Martin said on Thursday that many countries have recognised Palestinian statehood and it is an “absurd and unacceptable assertion” for Ms Erlich to have made.

“Given our own experience of 30 years of terror in Northern Ireland, the last thing Fianna Fáil is doing is condoning or in any way rewarding terrorism. It is the last thing we would do.”