Tánaiste Micheál Martin has reaffirmed his stance that a coalition government between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin is not feasible. Martin cited ideological disparities as the major reason, even though he did not discard the possibility entirely under certain scenarios. He asserted that an alliance would be unattainable if Sinn Féin persisted with their current policy orientations.
Martin voiced this in the run-up to his party’s ardfheis, inaugurated at the Royal Convention Centre in Dublin on Friday. His keynote address to the delegates was a critical analysis of Sinn Féin’s operational record both in Government in Northern Ireland and the Oireachtas in Southern Ireland.
He condemned their aspiration to overpower in the forthcoming three elections due over the next year. Martin promised to hold them accountable for their policy implications, which according to him could prove damaging for Ireland.
In further elaboration of his criticism while conversing with reporters, Martin stated that a negotiation with Sinn Féin would be off the table, especially if their policy approach towards Europe stays put. He specifically highlighted their inconsistent position regarding the Middle East.
In his speech, Martin drew attention to significant topics such as education, farming, housing, and immigration. He reiterated the government’s hardened stance on immigration, underscoring the necessity for policies that are robust yet fair. Decisions on asylum cases had to be expedited while remaining respectful of humanitarian needs due to burgeoning global migration pressures.
Martin justified the party’s decision to not extend an invite to Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich to the ardfheis, citing dissatisfaction with events unfolding in Gaza. He outlined that there is a need to distinguish between states and political parties, and shared his belief in diplomacy over expulsion. He mentioned previous instances where he was asked to deport the Russian and Iranian ambassadors, to which he disagreed, promoting the notion of open channels of communication between governments and their diplomats.