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SINN FÉIN’S HOUSING spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin grew frustrated at reporters today when he was repeatedly asked about comments the Tánaiste’s made yesterday about young voters and Sinn Féin.
Ó Broin initially said: “I am far more focused on the need for young people to have housing than on the Tánaiste’s comments.”
However, when further questioned Ó’Broin said the Tánaiste’s comments were “ill-judged, patronising and insulting” to young voters.
Speaking to reporters in Tipperary yesterday, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said there is a “huge incompatibility” between Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil policies.
He said Sinn Fein had been “very slow” to bring closure to many victims of Provisional IRA violence.
“It reminds us of the need for Sinn Fein not to triumphalise the horrible deeds they did,” he said.
“They still try to triumphalise, they still try to justify it. The problem with that is that you’re infecting a new generation of people,” Martin added.
Martin today refused to roll back these comments after it was put to him that it was an insult to young people to say that they could be “infected” so easily.
“The context in which I said that was about violence and triumphalising violence.
“Does Eoin Ó Broin not think it’s time for Sinn Féin to bring closure to many victims of atrocities of the division.
“The fundamental point I was making yesterday was about Sinn Féin triumphalising atrocity,” he said.
Martin went on to say that Sin Féin was right to push the Government in its response to the British Government’s Troubles Legacy Bill which will offer limited immunity for some perpetrators of crimes committed during the Northern Ireland Troubles.
However he said Sinn Féin have “got away with it in terms of the legacy debate, in respect of their obligations”.
The Tánaiste said: “I’ve met with victim groups in the North, who Sinn Féin refuse to meet. There’s quite a lot of people in that situation, who need closure. They don’t seem to be making any contribution to the legacy issue at all themselves.”
Ó Broin said the Tánaiste “would be far better placed to listen to what young people are saying, and to address their key concerns in areas for example, like housing than making what I think are very ill-judged, patronising and insulting remarks.”
He continued: “I think Micheál Martin is desperate. I don’t think he has anything positive to offer young people on housing, on health care and childcare. And therefore, increasingly, so much of his commentary is negative. Our focus is positive.”
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Extremely serious but not as extreme as political point scoring over Sinn Féin, Cairns and Bacik were a disgrace, both of whom will readily join the next government, knowing that they won’t play a significant role and most left in regards to child protection but hey, they got their 15 minutes on attacking Sinn Féin in managing complaints very well. Does the British Heart Foundation not vet employees? Sorry, that doesn’t help in attacking Sinn Féin. Mislead the Dáil but reported it to the PSNI, is it the Dáil we’re meant to feel sorry for not being given an opportnuity beforehand to attack Sinn Féin. What about a review of all parties, haven’t heard that suggested and it won’t happen, the establishments skeleton’s in the closet will remain just that. The Grace case should be interesting.
@Brian D’Arcy: even a defibrillator would be no good to Sinn Fein now, there’s no coming back for them
@Fredrick Dooley: it’s a non story designed to deflect from the sorry state of affairs the country is in .
24 billion surplus we are told but cant stop over 600 people being on trolleys .
A joke of a govt
@sean weir: a worse opposition, in fact, no opposition
@Brian D’Arcy: typical of Sf referring to the alleged victims ‘trauma’. You either think this is smart politics or a cheap smear. The latter for me. Why couldn’t they wait and let the gardai pursue their investigation (of what wasn’t a criminal offence until SF decided to categorise it as such.
@sean weir: what can the government do about the HSE there’s only so much money you can through at a black hole and no matter who is in government this situation will be the norm. The HSE needs to be gutted broken up and redesigned an audit done in every hospital who is actually working and what are there rolls also some positions should amalgamated allowing funding to employ more much needed doctors nurses. Actual triage units external to ED need to be set up and ED only used for emergencies not when little Johnny has a sniffle or the shitz either that or charge time wasters those with medical cards especially.
Well…the previous supplier of these allegedly “date doctored” defibrillator pads was not named. Surely that’s a criminal offence – tampering with essential ancillary products that are necessary for medical devices to be effective?? These are not just “sticky pads” but contain the electrical conductor gel for the defibrillator paddles to make effective contact through to the receiving person’s body. PS – I’m not a medical equipment engineer – so please correct me if I’m wrong…
A shocking situation.
PEOPLE WILL DIE!! ENQUIRY NOW
This is not as shocking as it should be.
You could just say they lose their stickiness
Least tea bags never out of date
@Shawn: There’s generally two years on them.
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