Congratulations Micheál for getting Billy back onside but where is Sean Haughey on Brexit? – Richmond

 Billy Kelleher flip-flops on Withdrawal Bill and votes for deal

Fine Gael’s Neale Richmond has welcomed Billy Kelleher’s flip-flop by voting in favour of the withdrawal agreement and congratulated Micheál Martin for getting his MEP to vote in the national interest.

However Senator Richmond added; “With just one day left until the UK officially leaves the European Union, there is still no word from Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Sean Haughey.

“It is absolutely unbelievable that just hours away from the UK leaving the EU, nobody has heard a word from the Fianna Fáil representative.

“Micheál Martin has to be congratulated for getting his party’s MEP Billy Kelleher back onside after he threatened to vote against the Withdrawal Agreement in the European Parliament. Thankfully, as Fianna Fáil representatives often do on these issues, Billy flip-flopped and voted for the agreement that Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Helen McEntee have fought so hard for,” Senator Richmond said.

“However, where is Sean Haughey? If Fianna Fáil were to lead the next Government, he will be tasked with leading Ireland’s negotiations on the Future Relationship with the UK,” Senator Richmond said.

Deputy Haughey took over the Fianna Fáil Foreign Affairs role after votegate duo, Niall Collins and Timmy Dooley were sacked from the front bench by their party leader.

“In Fianna Fáil’s own manifesto they state that: ‘Negotiations on the future relationship will be arduous and complex’,” Senator Richmond said.

“And yet nobody has seen or heard Sean Haughey on the issue of Brexit since his appointment to Fianna Fáil’s frontbench following their party’s votegate scandal last year.

“The Irish public have a right to know how Fianna Fáil will deal with these arduous and complex negotiations. To date they have heard nothing. Last week I called on Sean Haughey to debate Simon Coveney on Brexit in TV or radio. We have heard nothing.

“The Fianna Fáil general election campaign has, to date been a vanity project for Micheal Martin.  It’s all about him and nobody else is allowed to speak. Fianna Fáil are running scared because they don’t have the people or policies to deliver for the people of Ireland on Brexit.

“In contrast Fine Gael has the best Brexit Team ready to deliver for Ireland in the next phase of Brexit”