Sinn Féin and Mary Lou McDonald won’t succeed - insists Laois Offaly Fine Gael TD

Sinn Féin wants a General Election at Christmas rather than provide credible solutions with other parties, Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan has said.

Dep Flanagan, a former Justice Minister, outlined what he believed what is at risk this week after Sinn Féin put down a Dáil motion against Justice Minister Helen McEntee over the Dublin riots.

“Make no mistake about it, Sinn Féin and Mary Lou McDonald would short-change all if they ever had to make serious and hard decisions about ensuring our cities and communities are safe," he said in a statement

He appealed to the public to look at their actions over the last week and a half.

“Rather than work with Government and other authorities to ensure Dublin and all other areas are safe and equipped with high visibility policing, they want to ‘take out’ the Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

“Rather than respect a school’s wishes for privacy as they attempt to return to normality, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald goes and records social media videos for publicity stunts. At the same time, Sinn Féin tweets and produce images in the Dáil of vulnerable people and are led by the hard right.

“Rather than work with Dublin businesses and listen to their concerns, as Fine Gael Ministers have done constantly, they try to cause a General Election this month.

“Rather than work with all and provide unity following the violent events of November 23rd, Sinn Féin want to tear down the institutions that people are looking for leadership from," he said.

He claimed that SF would not succeed.

“But this has always been Sinn Féin’s default position. Attack the State and attempt to tear it down. Sinn Féin and Mary Lou McDonald won’t succeed. Fine Gael wants to build stronger, safer communities across the country.

“Sinn Féin, in their own language, want to ‘take out’ the Justice Minister. Let’s have that justice debate this week and all will see in stark detail where Sinn Féin have stood with this country and An Garda Siochána when it comes to ensuring justice prevails in this country,” Deputy Flanagan said. 

Dep Flanagan, who is not standing at the next General Election, issued the statement in the days before Sinn Féin is tabling a motion of no confidence in the Minister of Justice Helen McEntee over the handling of the Dublin riots.