Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin accuses Sinn Féin of ‘flip-flopping to an alarming degree’

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said there are “very significant differences” on policy between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, when asked about a possible future coalition.

The Fianna Fáil leader accused Sinn Féin of being able to “flip flop, U-turn to an alarming degree”, including on whether to call for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.

He was speaking at the start of his party’s 82nd ard fheis in Dublin, where he said that the focus would be on the cost of living, public services and conditions facing farmers.

He said SF was an anti-EU party and said “they don’t get the European Union”, accusing it of “antics” this week on the EU migration pact.

He said: “As far as I’m concerned, we can’t go into government with Sinn Féin if it maintains policy positions like it’s maintained on Europe.”

He added: “I think we’ll consult with the remainder of the party as well, and I’m very clear that policy has to be the bottom line.”

Mr Martin also said that Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Byrne was “ar mhuin na muice”, or “on the pig’s back”, over his appointment as junior minister with responsibility for the Irish language.

“Thomas is very happy to be minister for the Gaeltacht and I think there was a sense, we discussed this, because Jack Chambers had been minister for the Gaeltacht in that department of culture and the arts, sport – there’s a synergy there between the different issues,” he said.

“Minister (for Culture Catherine) Martin was very happy to take it back into that department and Thomas is fluent, is very happy, I think that’s very evident. He’s very committed to the Irish language.”

Mr Martin also pushed back on comments made by the Israeli ambassador that recognising Palestinian statehood would “reward terrorism”.

Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich was not invited to the Fianna Fáil ard fheis this weekend, with Mr Martin stating the move was an effort to make it clear that the party is “not satisfied with what is going on in Gaza”.

Mr Martin rejected comments Ms Erlich made on Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show, in which she said it was not the “right time” and questioned why Ireland would “reward terrorism” by granting recognition to Palestine.

Mr Martin said yesterday that many countries have recognised Palestinian statehood and it is an “absurd and unacceptable assertion” for Ms Erlich to have made.

“There was a time when Israel committed to a two-state solution,” he said. “I think under Benjamin Netanyahu what we witnessed from Israel were deliberate attempts to undermine the prospects of the two-state solution – failure to rein in settlers and settlements for example is evidence of that and it is just wrong to make that assertion.”

Mr Martin said it would be “very incorrect” to say the Government has not condemned Hamas as an organisation, adding that he has “very vociferously” condemned the “heinous crimes” Hamas committed on October 7.

“Given our own experience of 30 years of terror in Northern Ireland, the last thing Fianna Fáil is doing is condoning or in any way rewarding terrorism. It is the last thing we would do.”

He said the focus for Government now is on working with other states within and outside the EU that would “collectively and in a coordinated way together recognise the Palestinian state”.

“It is catastrophic what is happening to the children of Gaza and the civilians of Gaza and no human being could not but be moved by what is transpiring.”

His comments came after the Taoiseach also rejected Ms Erlich’s claim, “entirely possible” to both call for a ceasefire in Gaza while also condemning the actions of Hamas.

Simon Harris was speaking at Government Buildings after meeting with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez where they discussed recognising Palestine as a state, which he said would happen when “the time is right”.

Mr Martin also said the Government was “running out of time” to explain a referendum on patents to the public in time for the local and European polling day on June 7, amid reports that the referendum will not be run.

“My view is that time is running short between now and the local elections. I’ve always had a view myself that referendums ideally should be held on their own, and not in the context of other elections,” Mr Martin said.

“Others have different views, others felt that with local elections, European elections, you get a reasonable turnout to vote on a given referendum.

“The problem is getting the focus and time to focus on important issues. To amend the constitution is a very serious issue. And it needs proper time, proper preparation and an explanation to the public, in this case the Electoral Commission needs adequate time.

“So my view is we’re running out of time in respect of the local elections and European on that date to hold the patent referendum.

“It’s an important referendum in its own right, very important in terms of the industrial base of Ireland, life sciences, technology, and the research that underpins a lot of jobs in Ireland so we have to work on getting it done, and I think we need to do more work in terms of explaining to the public what is involved.”

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