Micheál Martin cosying up to Sinn Féin in search of electoral gain – O’Dowd

Micheál Martin and the Fianna Fáil party are cosying up to Sinn Féin in search of an electoral bounce in the Local and European elections, and may be laying the ground for a future coalition on the national stage, a Fine Gael TD has warned.

Louth TD, Fergus O’Dowd, was speaking after Deputy Martin refused to rule out working with Sinn Féin, today (Wednesday).

Deputy O’Dowd said: “With two days to polling day in the Local and European elections, we see how desperate Fianna Fáil are in their search for votes. Today in a press conference, Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin was asked to rule out working with Sinn Féin, and he refused to do so.

“People need to know that a vote for Fianna Fáil may be a vote for Sinn Féin in your local area. You would also have to wonder if Micheál Martin is using these mid-term elections to lay the ground for a future Fianna Fáil/ Sinn Féin coalition after the next General Election.

“In Fine Gael we have ruled out partnerships with Sinn Féin at local government level. We have been clear with our Local and European election candidates that we are not working with Sinn Féin.

“Micheál Martin now needs to be equally clear with the voting public about the Fianna Fáil approach. Deputy Martin should clarify if Fianna Fáil is seeking an electoral pact with Sinn Féin in a last-minute bid for transfers in these important Local and European elections,” Deputy O’Dowd concluded.