Sinn Féin has ‘toxic economic policies’, says Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has launched an attack on Sinn Féin and claimed that their “toxic economic policies” would throw the country into chaos.

The Fine Gael minister also shot down the idea of his party doing business with Independent TDs after the general election to form a government.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, he said: “I think there are huge question marks over Sinn Féin and its fitness for government, but the real difficulties I have with Sinn Féin is their economic policies.

“I think they would undo much of the hard work that has been done in terms of stabilising our public finances and bringing Ireland into a position of economic growth, creating thousands of jobs.

“Sinn Fein’s toxic economic policies would plunge the country into chaos,” Mr Flanagan said.

The Laois-Offaly TD also raised concerns about Independent ending up in Government.

Despite Taoiseach Enda Kenny having signalled his interest in some Independents, Mr Flanagan warned: “I believe Independents by their position are lacking in stability, lacking in common goals or objectives, and they are thereby unsuitable to form a programme for government.”

Mr Flanagan, facing into his seventh general election, said he believed that Fine Gael would undoubtedly face seat losses, but that the party could get at least 38% of Dáil seats.

“I believe Fine Gael and Labour should be returned [in government]. The jackpot is 79. I certainly feel that Fine Gael will be north of 60,” the foreign affairs minister said.