Naughton expresses deep disappointment at Sinn Féin’s unashamed objection to transparency and accountability

Fine Gael Minister and Government Chief Whip, Hildegarde Naughton TD, has expressed her deep disappointment at Sinn Féin’s rejection of her offer of Dáil time to respond to questions and to account for their incorrect financial returns and filings.

Minister Naughton asked: “If there really is nothing to see here as Sinn Féin maintain, then why don’t Sinn Féin come to the Dáil and answer all outstanding questions?

“If this really isn’t creative accounting at the hands of the ‘would be’ Government party, then I simply cannot understand why Sinn Féin wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to put such serious questions to bed.

“Instead, Sinn Féin appears to reject the notion outright that they should account for their serious inaccuracies in their statutory declarations and audited accounts.

“Sinn Féin’s ‘thanks but no thanks’ approach to transparency is a very clear statement to the country – they are neither ready nor fit to be in Government.

“And if they were to run a department or an economy in the manner they oversee their own finances, they would absolutely wreck our economy.

“Sinn Féin appears to be the only party who refuse to be upfront and honest with the public about how they do business.”

Concluding, Minister Naughton said: “I am disappointed by Sinn Féin’s unashamed objection to transparency and accountability. Even more so, I am disappointed for the people who voted for the party in good faith and who deserve more when it comes to the public purse. We will now consider the best way forward on the matter. In the meantime, the offer remains for Mary Lou McDonald and treasurer, Pearse Doherty, to reconsider their position when it comes to transparency.

“How much more will emerge before Sinn Fein finally account for themselves?”