Fine Gael says SF is 'not decent' and it will 'not have them in Government'

06/04/2024 Galway Ireland. The 82nd Fine Gael Ard Fheis will take place in University of Galway. Photo shows Jennifer Carroll Macneill speaking at the Ard Fheis. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie

Fine Gael has gone on the attack against Sinn Féin with a junior minister saying the opposition party "can’t count” and “we’re not having them in Government”.

At Fine Gael's Ard Fheis in Galway, Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said Sinn Féin's “mask slips” in serious and trivial ways and that Fine Gael “would not be lectured on democratic norms” by the other party.

“They can't count, she said. “They're not decent, and they shouldn't be in government buildings.

“Sinn Féin can't count and I am sick and tired of Fine Gael and the Department of Finance and other people having to point out the actual cost of childcare, the actual cost of building a house, the actual way to balance a budget.” 

She said that Sinn Féin talks to businesses and tells them “nothing will change” but tells workers that “everything will change”.

“This isn’t honest,” she added, saying that Fine Gael would fight for “democratic values”.

Earlier Fine Gael TD Kate O'Connell strongly signaled that she now wants to run in the next general election following the departure of Leo Varadkar.

Making a surprise appearance at the Ard Fheis, Ms O'Connell said: "I just want to be available to Simon Harris as a Fine Gael person, to help him rebuild the party and help him regain the seats that we lost in 2020."

The former Dublin Bay South TD previously said she would not run again under the leadership of Leo Varadkar and she described his shock resignation as "the end of dark enough chapter in my life, and the start of perhaps something new".

She said the appointment of Simon Harris as leader of Fine Gael "does open an avenue for me" with regards to running in the next general election.

"I'm here to support Simon Harris today, I think he is going to a very good leader. I think Fine Gael has gone through a very difficult period, perhaps a period of inertia."

Describing Mr Harris as a "personal friend" she said his promotion to Fine Gael leader is "the best outcome for the party".

"I believe the vibe and the energy Simon has will draw people into the party," she said.

Asked if she would run in the upcoming local elections, Ms O'Connell said: "I haven't considered the locals, the tickers are prepared and the candidates have hit the ground running, I do have a job at the minute that I have to do, I'm in employment, I have three children, summer plans, I haven't considered that."