Taoiseach says Sinn Féin only accepts democracy when it suits them

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has condemned the four-hour sit-in by Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald that disrupted Dáil business on Thursday, accusing the party of only believing in democracy when it suited them.

Mr Kenny said the Dáil sets down rules and regulations and it appeared to Sinn Féin that it was “fine” to talk about abiding by democratic decisions but not to accept the democratic decisions.

“If the Dáil votes to expel a deputy, any deputy, Independent or of any party, then that should be followed through,” said Mr Kenny on a visit to New York.

“It seems as if Sinn Féin can say, ‘well we talk about democracy but we don’t actually believe in it when it affects ourselves.’”

Responding to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams saying that he had no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, the Taoiseach said Mr Barrett was elected to implement the rules of the Dáil independently.

Selective democracy

“This is a case of where the Sinn Féin party talk about understanding democracy but when it suits themselves they can throw it aside,” he said.

When the Dáil meets on Tuesday, Ms McDonald will be stopped by a Dáil usher and asked not to enter the chamber if she attempts to do so following her suspension on Thursday. If she defies the instruction and enters the chamber, Mr Barrett will have no option but to suspend the sitting again until she agrees to leave.

In a statement, Mr Barrett described last Thursday’s stand-off as “deeply regrettable” adding that “it must be clearly understood that it is not my decision that Deputy McDonald leave the House but it is a decision that was taken by the majority by way of vote”.

Ceann Comhairle attacked

Speaking after the sit-in, Mr Adams supported his deputy leader and launched an unprecedented attack on Mr Barrett and his office. “Given his treatment of the Opposition parties and Independents and particularly Sinn Féin, I have no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle,” he said.

There is no indication so far about how Sinn Féin intends to pursue the issue.

A Government spokesman pointed out yesterday two measures delayed by the sit-in were a vote on the Christmas bonus for social welfare recipients and an increase in child benefit.

Mr Kenny yesterday also denounced the attack by Mr Adams on the Irish Independent at a Sinn Féin fundraiser in New York last week when he spoke of how Michael Collins dealt with a critical press, referring to the paper's editor being held at gunpoint during the War of Independence.

“It is utterly reprehensible of the leader of Sinn Féin to in any way cast aspersions about the freedom of the press to write their stories,” Mr Kenny said, defending the newspaper’s right to report on the IRA’s handling of allegations about child sex abuse by members of the group.