Martin accuses Sinn Féin of ‘contrived crisis’ over welfare bill

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has accused Sinn Féin of manufacturing a "contrived crisis" after the party announced it would oppose the passage of the welfare bill in the Northern Assembly.

Mr Martin said Sinn Féin “knew full well” what it was signing up to in terms of the welfare cuts that would have to be introduced under the Stormont House Agreement and criticised the party for withdrawing its support for the bill.

"One really has to articulate a sense of deep cynicism about the attitude of Sinn Féin to governance in Northern Ireland. I think they're stretching credibility to its very limits to suggest that overnight they have had a change of heart in relation to the Stormont House Agreement," Mr Martin said. Mr Martin said there had been full-page newspaper advertisements taken out by trade unions highlighting how welfare benefits would be affected.

The Fianna Fáil leader said that other parties had tabled amendments at the Assembly on the social welfare package which Sinn Féin had rejected.

Mr Martin said: “I think people are getting fed up of these contrived crises that Sinn Féin manage to organise from time to time to get their profile up and so on.

“It’s clear they were spooked on this one.”

Mr Martin said there had been no mention of Sinn Féin’s difficulty with the package at the party’s ard fheis at the weekend.

“And then suddenly all was revealed yesterday, essentially tearing up the Stormont House Agreement.

“It’s an illustration that Sinn Féin do not actually govern when given the opportunity to govern. Everything is short-termism and electoral mode.”

‘Severe difficulties’

Earlier, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said there were “severe difficulties” in Northern Irish politics.

“Obviously, politics has got to play it’s part now. Everybody agreed, apparently, in a situation which now appears to be causing severe difficulties,” Mr Kenny said.

“I hope they can work it out.”

The Taoiseach was speaking on his way into a Cabinet meeting.

Stormont House Agreement

The crisis began on Monday after deputy first minister Martin McGuinness said Sinn Féin will now oppose the passage of the welfare bill.

An agreement on the issue had been reached with the Stormont House Agreement at Christmas, when Sinn Féin said it would remove its hitherto staunch opposition to British government welfare reform.

Sinn Féin said it did its initial U-turn on welfare reform based on commitments that the effects of welfare cuts would be cushioned for the most vulnerable.

However, Mr McGuinness accused the DUP of “acting in bad faith” on welfare protections and said that Sinn Féin will oppose the bill in the Assembly later today.

In response, DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said Sinn Féin would itself be reneging on a deal if it now voted against the welfare bill. "The stakes couldn't be higher," he said.

Mr McGuinness said Sinn Féin had honoured its commitments and had worked constructively to put in place the welfare protections agreed last December.

Mr Donaldson told BBC Radio Ulster that if the welfare bill was rejected then the consequences would be “massive” and politics in Northern Ireland would be in “very, very troubled waters”.

First minister Peter Robinson stated previously that if there was no deal on welfare reform then the Northern Executive and Assembly could hardly survive.