How can Micheál Martin lead the country when he can’t lead his own party? – D’Arcy

Fine Gael Senator for Louth/East Meath, Jim D’Arcy, has this week called on all Fianna Fáil candidates to clarify their position on whether they will go into government with Sinn Féin as many seem to be definitively at odds with their party leader.

“Over the past number of weeks and months a number of high profile Fianna Fáil TDs and general election candidates have publically come out and said that Fianna Fáil is ready to go into government with Sinn Féin.

“This week Gerry Adams has claimed that a number of Fianna Fáil TDs have approached him about the fact that they are ‘uncomfortable’ about their leader. This isn’t surprising when you consider the remarks of Fianna Fáil’s Carlow-Kilkenny TD, Bobby Aylward, who said a lot of people in the party would support going into government with Sinn Féin ‘as they come from the same republican background’.

“Micheál Martin dismissed Sinn Féin’s willingness to working together as “posturing”. However, Eamonn O’ Cúiv, John McGuinness, Colm Keaveney, Micheal Kitt, Sean Fleming, John Browne and Mary White have refused to rule out coalition talks with Sinn Féin.

“Micheál Martin claims that he is the only alternative to Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. For this to happen, Fianna Fáil will have to do a deal with Sinn Féin and others on the far left. It is apparent that Fianna Fáil has not changed at all and will still do anything to gain power, irrespective of the damage such a coalition government would do to the country.

“It is the same old Fianna Fáil, power at all costs. I for one am not surprised, after all Micheál Martin has come up under the wings of Charlie Haughey and Bertie Ahern, and we all saw what their stewardship did for the country.

“It should be clear to all; a vote for Fianna Fáil is a vote for Sinn Féin”