Martin criticises Independent Ireland leader's 'ill-thought out' chemical castration comments

Tánaiste Micheál Martin told the Irish Examiner that he didn't think Independent Ireland would want to go into government. Picture: Gareth Chaney

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has criticised Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins over his calls to chemically castrate sex offenders, describing it as “ill-thought out”.

However, Mr Martin has said there is a need to “constantly review” whether or not parole comes up too early in cases involving rapists or murderers.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, the Fianna Fáil leader said: “I believe that rapists and people who commit murder need long sentences and one area I think we need to constantly review is where parole comes up too early.

“I think we need to watch that space, that people who commit murder or rape and are convicted of that are given long sentences,” he said.

Cork South West TD Michael Collins, who provided a character reference in 2013 for a man who was convicted of defilement of a minor, now wants to introduce chemical castration for sex offenders.

Asked if what Mr Collins said was wrong, Mr Martin said: “I think it’s probably ill-thought out. I don’t know has he thought through it properly in terms of actual practical implementation.”

Whether Fianna Fáil would be able to go into Government with Independent Ireland, Mr Martin said that he did not believe Mr Collins would be interested in forming a coalition.

“I don’t think Michael will ever want to go into government. I remember when he was first elected and I talked with him in 2016, he had a long list of about 35 items, but it was clear to me early on that he was never really going to go into government.

“Certainly the last time in 2020, there was no indication that they wanted to go into government, so I don’t see that arising.”

Mr Martin revealed that Leo Varadkar's resignation announcement was the “last thing” he expected after he returned from the US. But he insisted that it did not make him consider his own position.

My position didn’t change one way or the other, but I had to adapt pretty quickly to what was a pretty significant announcement by Leo.

“My view is consistency is important, stability is important.”

Mr Martin said that there is an argument that longevity in politics may not be as big a factor as it was previously, saying that social media is having an impact on the decision of politicians to step down.

“There seems to be a greater intensity and aggression in the engagement with some politicians,” Mr Martin said.

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“That sort of nasty element is that’s arising is putting people off politics and may be a factor in decision making by politicians as to how long they stay in politics.”

However, Mr Martin said that he didn’t totally agree with assertions that the rise in toxicity is due to politicians, citing “rough and tough exchanges” in the 1980s and 90s, which did not lead to the vitriol that is currently seen on social media.

“Now, social media wasn’t there, but even generally out in the public domain it wasn’t as evident.”