Martin: We cannot go into government with Sinn Fein over its EU policies

Micheal Martin has said there are “very significant” differences between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein, but avoided ruling out a future coalition with the main opposition party.

The Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader said that policy “has to be the bottom line” and his party cannot go into government with Sinn Fein if it maintains positions such as its approach to the EU.

He was speaking at the start of the 82nd Fianna Fail Ard Fheis conference in Dublin, where he said that the focus would be on the cost of living, public services and challenges for farmers.

Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of having “very significant capacity to flip flop, to U-turn to an alarming degree” on various issues, including on whether to call for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.

He launched a retaliation of a speech by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald at Arbour Hill where she accused Fianna Fail of being “far too deferential” to the EU, and that her party would “back policies when they are good for Ireland”.

Mr Martin said Sinn Fein was an anti-EU party that “don’t get the European Union”.

He also accused the party of “antics” this week on the EU migration and asylum pact, an overhaul of Europe’s immigration system, and criticised the party for its opposition to the Canada-EU trade agreement Ceta.

He said: “As far as I’m concerned, we can’t go into government with Sinn Fein if it maintains policy positions like the one it’s maintained on Europe, like it’s flip flopping on the whole area around the Middle East, for example.

“One week, they were calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, they came under pressure in Belfast, the following week, they were putting down motions for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador – to me, revealing a party that doesn’t get government and the importance of diplomacy.”

Responding to criticisms from ex-minister and Fianna Fail TD Willie O’Dea, Mr Martin said he would be consulted with on the issue, as would “the remainder of the party as well”.

“I’m very clear that policy has to be the bottom line,” he added.

He said: “When you go through it policy by policy, you’ll find very significant differences between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein, and indeed other parties on the far left as well, and that’s the basis upon we’ll make a decision on that.”

In an opening speech to Fianna Fail delegates on Friday evening, Mr Martin again took aim at Sinn Fein, accusing them of spending “90% of their time attacking government parties in aggressive and often personal terms”.

“In the case of Sinn Fein, we have the most cynical and destructive opposition in our history,” he said.

Covering other issues, Mr Martin said his party was “building a strong record of delivery” in the coalition government with Fine Gael and the Green Party.

He said that in four years, the government had delivered “more homes than in the previous nine years combined”, but admitted “we must and we are going further”, and that there is “much more to be done”.

Asked about a future general election, Mr Martin said that “politicians should not be complacent about elections”, but added: “Once the election starts, it takes on a dynamic all of its own”.

A Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll last weekend indicated that Sinn Fein is on 26% and Fianna Fail is on 16%.

Fine Gael is on 21%, the Green Party is on 4%, the Social Democrats are on 6%, Aontu is on 4%, Labour is on 3% and People Before Profit is on 2%.

The independents are pooling 17% of the vote, the largest percentage-point increase since the last opinion poll.