Micheál Martin says he cannot form government with SF if it continues 'flip-flopping'

Tánaiste takes aim at changes in Sinn Féin policies during his speech opening Fianna Fáil's ard fheis

Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin arriving at the 82nd Fianna Fáil ard fheis in Dublin. Picture: Conor McCabe

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has ruled out going into government with Sinn Féin if it continues “flip-flopping” on issues including the Middle East and the EU.

Mr Martin, speaking at the Fianna Fáil ard fheis in Dublin, said there are “fundamental differences” on policy between his party and Sinn Féin.

The Tánaiste took aim at Sinn Féin for having a “very significant capacity to flip-flop, to U-turn to an alarming degree”.

“As far as I’m concerned, we can’t go into government with Sinn Féin if it maintains policy positions like the one it’s maintained on Europe, like it’s flip-flopping on the whole area around the Middle East, for example,” Mr Martin said.

“One week they were not calling for the expulsion of the ambassador. They came under pressure in Belfast. The following week, they were putting down motions for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, to me, revealing a party that doesn’t get government and the importance of diplomacy.”

Mr Martin said there would be consultation within Fianna Fáil ahead of any negotiations with Sinn Féin to form a government.

In his speech opening the ard fheis, Mr Martin described Sinn Féin as the “most cynical and destructive opposition in our history”.

“We’ve seen recently how scared Sinn Fein is of ever having to make a tough decision — constantly moving back and forth on issues, always looking for a way to exploit problems rather than help solve them.”

Asked about the expected delay of the upcoming patent court referendum, Mr Martin said that he believed that the Government was “running out of time” to hold the referendum on the same date as the local and European elections.

“It’s an important referendum in its own right, very important in terms of the industrial base of Ireland, life sciences, technology and the research that underpins a lot of jobs in Ireland,” Mr Martin said.

“So we have to work on getting it done and I think we need to do more work in terms of explaining it to the public what is involved but we’ll make a final decision on that on Monday evening. The three party leaders are meeting in respect of it.”

Mr Martin said that Enterprise Minister Peter Burke is due to bring a memo to Cabinet on the referendum next Tuesday.