Micheál Martin's comments on Sinn Féín 'desperate' and 'insulting' 

The Tánaiste accused Sinn Féin of 'infecting a new generation of young people'

Sinn Féin said Micheál Martin was “desperate” and claimed the Fianna Fáil leader had nothing positive to offer young people. Picture: Damien Eagers

Sinn Féin has said comments made by Tánaiste Micheál Martin were “desperate” and “insulting” after he said the party was “infecting a new generation”.

Mr Martin made the comments at Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party think-in in Tipperary on Monday.

He hit out at the main Opposition party, claiming the party was “two-faced” on climate change and remained “triumphalist” about the “horrible deeds” that were committed during the Troubles.

“The problem with that is really that you’re infecting a new generation of young people,” Mr Martin said.

Reacting to his comments, Sinn Fein’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said the party was “far more focused on the need for young people to have housing”. 

Speaking to reporters at Leinster House, Mr Ó Broin said young people who are struggling with high rents and house prices did not want to be “patronised or insulted” by politicians.

“Young people aren't stupid, they know what is working and not working in our country and I have to say that Micheál Martin would be far better placed to listen to what young people say and to address their key concerns in areas like housing than making what I think are very ill-judged, patronising and insulting remarks about young people’s intelligence,” Mr Ó Broin said.

He added Mr Martin was “desperate” and claimed the Fianna Fáil leader had nothing positive to offer young people.

Mr Ó Broin also said Sinn Féin was not anti-enterprise as claimed by Mr Martin and said one of the biggest issues for businesses and attracting foreign direct investment was the housing crisis.

Mr Martin has refused to rule out going into Government with Sinn Féin in the future but criticised its policies. He was also critical of commentary around Sinn Féin, saying the media needs to “stop cheerleading them as if it’s a slam dunk”. 

Mr Ó Broin said Sinn Féin would prefer to form a government without Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil but said if that was not possible they would talk to any party that was interested in taking a radically different approach.