Taoiseach and Tánaiste use last party meetings of Dáil term to hit out at Sinn Féin

Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste used their final parliamentary party meetings of the Dáil term to hit out at Sinn Féin in the wake of the its failed motion of no confidence in the Government.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators that the motion exposed what he claimed was Sinn Féin’s “shallowness with billions and billions of promises and no policy depth on delivery.”

He said “collapsing the Dáil and a short term populist approach will not deliver in the national interest”.

Mr Martin said the outcome of the confidence vote — which the Government won by a margin of 19 — reaffirmed the stability of the Coalition.

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He said a full term in Government “provides a time frame to properly deliver and follow through on policies and initiatives.”

According to Mr Martin, the Coalition is in a “strong economic position” to deliver a cost-of-living package for families across the country this September.

He asked party members to submit ideas on the cost-of-living proposals as they are being developed over the summer.

Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil has “taken on the challenges of housing and health to make a difference” and the Government is focused on delivery.

He argued that it met the “unprecedented challenges of Covid and the war in Ukraine head on.”

At Fine Gael’s parliamentary party meeting Mr Varadkar said the passing of the Coalition’s counter motion of confidence by 19 votes on Tuesday was a “good day” for the Government and his party.

He said: “We will pass a Budget and can go full term” and added: “So long as we stay united, there won’t be a Sinn Féin-led Government this year, next year, the year after or maybe not even after that.”

Mr Varadkar said the Oireachtas has enacted 100 pieces of legislation in two years and Fine Gael is working on issues that matter to people including easing the cost-of-living, housing and healthcare.

He also thanked his party for their support and confidence during the Garda investigation into his leaking of a document on a GP agreement in 2019.

It emerged last week that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has concluded its consideration of the matter and did not recommend a prosecution.