Sinn Féin’s pledge to follow unelected ruling council an affront to democracy – O’Donovan

Sinn Féin’s pledge to follow the instructions of its Ard Chomhairle is an affront to democracy, a Fine Gael Minister has said.

Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan said, “The fact that Sinn Féin reps sign a pledge which says they will be guided by their Ard Chomhairle – a council of people not elected by the public – rather than those who elect them is an outright affront to democracy.

“Mary Lou McDonald’s attempt to normalise her party structure won’t wash with the public.

“People elect TDs to literally act as messengers of the people, not messengers of senior Sinn Féin figures who are not elected and not accountable to anyone.

“This is a very serious matter that voters should be concerned about – and we have seen in Northern Ireland how serious Sinn Féin themselves take this with Ministers asking for ‘consent’ from these very figures in the course of carrying out their official duties.

“This is just one of many reasons that Sinn Féin are unfit for Government and why Fine Gael have consistently said that we will never go into a coalition with the party.

“Unfortunately, Fianna Fáil have been less clear and consistent – we hear TDs talk about a FF-SF coalition privately and openly, and ex-leader Bertie Ahern admit that such a partnership will be a talking point after the election.

“People deserve to know where they really stand when it comes to a SF-FF coalition, especially in light of what we have learned about the undemocratic and worrisome way SF continue to conduct their business,” Minister O’Donovan concluded.