A Laois TD has launched a scathing attack on Sinn Fein ahead of tonight’s No Confidence motion in Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.
Charlie Flanagan says that Sinn Féin ‘want a General Election at Christmas’ rather than ‘provide credible solutions with other parties’.
Last week, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald called on the minister to resign in the Dáil.
Her comments came following the rioting events in Dublin that followed the stabbing of several people including children at a school.
Ms McDonald said: “We cannot have a Justice Minister who refuses to acknowledge the political failures that allowed our communities to become unsafe.
“Sinn Féin has been forced to put down a motion of no-confidence in the Minister for Justice because this Government is not listening.”
Ms McDonald said that it is the role of the Dáil to hold ministers to account, and therefore their immediate focus is on the removal of Ms McEntee.
If the government lost the vote, it would fall and in theory, a General Election would have to be called around Christmas time.
The government is expected to comfortably win the vote and Laois TD Flanagan has hit out at Sinn Fein.
He said: “Make no mistake about it, Sinn Féin and Mary Lou McDonald would short-change all if they ever had to make serious and hard decisions about ensuring our cities and communities are safe.
“Look at their actions over the last week and a half. Rather than work with Government and other authorities to ensure Dublin and all other areas are safe and equipped with high visibility policing, they want to ‘take out’ the Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
“Rather than respect a school’s wishes for privacy as they attempt to return to normality, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald goes and records social media videos for publicity stunts.
“At the same time, Sinn Féin tweets and produce images in the Dáil of vulnerable people and are led by the hard right.
“Rather than work with Dublin businesses and listen to their concerns, as Fine Gael Ministers have done constantly, they try to cause a General Election this month.
“Rather than work with all and provide unity following the violent events of November 23rd, Sinn Féin want to tear down the institutions that people are looking for leadership from.
“But this has always been Sinn Féin’s default position. Attack the State and attempt to tear it down.
“Sinn Féin and Mary Lou McDonald won’t succeed. Fine Gael want to build stronger, safer communities across the country.
“Sinn Féin, in their own language, want to ‘take out’ the Justice Minister.
“Let’s have that justice debate this week and all will see in stark detail where Sinn Féin have stood with this country and An Garda Siochána when it comes to ensuring justice prevails in this country.”
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