Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald and Gerry Adams Julien Behal/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Sinn Féin accused of 'leprechaun politics' over oil and gas profits policy

Sinn Féin described the comments as “nonsense” and called for a more constructive dialogue on the issue.

SINN FÉIN’S PROPOSAL to impose a 50 per cent tax on oil and gas profits has been dismissed by a Labour TD as “the ultimate display of leprechaun politics”.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Labour TD for Cork South-West Michael McCarthy said that the party’s proposal was one of many that were “unrealistic, misleading and short on basic fact.”

However, Sinn Féin hit back at the comments and called for a more constructive dialogue on the issue.

McCarthy told the Dáil yesterday: “Sinn Fein’s suggestion that we should slap a 50 per cent tax on oil and gas profits as a means to produce long-term wealth in this country is unrealistic in the extreme.

It is indicative of the type of leprechaun politics that they seem intent on pursuing in the House, and frankly their anti-EU dialogue is getting tiring.

McCarthy accused the party of “whipping up the fears” of vulnerable people in Ireland and said that Sinn Féin should be coming up with more constructive ideas as part of a more honest approach to politics.

Responding to the comments, Sinn Féin general secretary Dawn Doyle told TheJournal.ie that McCarthy was making “snide comments” and “grasping at straws.”

She said that it would be more beneficial to the country if there was a proper dialogue about how to make use of oil and gas profits in Ireland, adding:

It’s a nonsense comment given the amount of money that could be generated for the state if we properly explored this issue.

He [McCarthy] is grasping at straws. It would be of more benefit to sit down and talk about how oil and gas could be exploited in interests of the country.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
6 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GM
    Favourite GM
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 6:43 AM

    Have the Paddy’s day festival and keep letting sick people come in from Italy – short term economic gain long term pain

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan Mullins
    Favourite Dan Mullins
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 7:00 AM

    @GM: it’s too far gone, I don’t think there’s any chance of holding it back now.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean O' Donovan
    Favourite Sean O' Donovan
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 7:06 AM

    WHO receive a huge portion of funding from China. You can be assured they have to downplay it under instructions from China so confidence in their market doesn’t drop enough to send their economy crashing.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean O' Donovan
    Favourite Sean O' Donovan
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 7:10 AM
    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomàs
    Favourite Tomàs
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 7:12 AM

    @Sean O’ Donovan: A terrifying truth

    8
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Cunningham
    Favourite Paul Cunningham
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 7:15 AM

    @Sean O’ Donovan: Its why its not been described as a Pandemic too, despite being, well, a pandemic. China getting labelled as the country that spawned the pandemic would be damaging the CCP’s image.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rachel O' Meara
    Favourite Rachel O' Meara
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 6:36 AM

    As much as we blame our government (because let’s face it they are pretty inept) I’m surprised that the WHO also handled the situation so badly themselves, there really should have been a coordinated global effort to try and contain this virus, it’s like they gave up from the start.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Mc
    Favourite Joe Mc
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 6:50 AM

    @Rachel O’ Meara: because it’s about money. The real solution would be to shut down borders by every country. But vested interests and all that

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute lyndon
    Favourite lyndon
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 6:34 AM

    Pinball Wizard. Very good.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sea Graham
    Favourite Sea Graham
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 9:12 AM

    The WHO!? They’re a great little band that will, if sense prevails cancel their gig on the 18th

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tracey Russell
    Favourite Tracey Russell
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 10:55 AM

    What about the persons that present with symptoms after the 14 days isolation…will that practice be reviewed

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Farreller
    Favourite Farreller
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 9:13 AM

    Are they not a band

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damian Mac An Bháird
    Favourite Damian Mac An Bháird
    Report
    Mar 6th 2020, 10:09 AM

    @Farreller: great band.

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds