Sinn Féin today claimed two of their members, one a Cork Corporation councillor, who were working on a navy site have been dismissed because of their party membership.
Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle member Mr Martin Ferris said Mr John Callaghan and Mr Jonathan O’Brien were working on the roof of the site in Haulbowline for a week and a half before the main contractor was told they were not to come back on site again.
"No reason was given. Subsequent inquiries by the men, their union and the main contractor could not obtain a reason for the men's dismissal from Haulbowline," Mr Ferris said.
"There was no problem with their work. The only thing they have in common is their membership of Sinn Féin. Mr O’Brien is a very able Cork Corporation councillor, active on five important committees, yet the navy does not consider him suitable to work on their base".
In a brief statement today, a defence forces spokesman said: "There are security clearance procedures that are carried out in respect of non-military personnel gaining access to military posts. Any matters of security policy are not discussed".
Cork Sinn Fein spokesperson Mr Frank O'Neill told ireland.comthe decision was "petty bureaucracy gone mad".
"They were working on the site for ten days. If there was a security risk they could have done a lot in ten days".
Mr O’Neill said neither men had any police record and wondered how at a time when the Government was urging Sinn Féin to take its place on the police boards in Northern Ireland the navy in the Republic was discriminating against their members.
Mr O’Neill said the matter would be raised at Government level by Sin Féin's Mr Martin Ferris.