Tánaiste accuses Sinn Féin of 'breaking political consensus on Ukraine'

Tánaiste Simon Harris and Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty. Pictures: Brian Lawless/PA/Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

The Tánaiste has accused Sinn Féin of "breaking political consensus on Ukraine" after the opposition party voted against an EU loan facility for Ukraine.

The Dáil earlier this week debated a motion seeking approval for Ireland to take part in a EU loan of €90 billion to support Ukraine. However, Sinn Féin's deputy leader Pearse Doherty said that his party would vote against the motion because his party's amendment which he said supported humanitarian aid, energy assistance and support for civilian infrastructure in Ukraine was voted down.

Mr Doherty added that the Sinn Féin motion supported the provision of non-lethal support "that saves lives and keeps hospitals open and homes heated" while adding that the €90 billion loan facility would do little for EU citizens.

“At a time when families in Ireland are crippled by the cost-of-living crisis, and after a budget that gave ordinary workers nothing, this government are proposing that billions of euros are given to Ukraine for weapons of war.

“I’d rather see that money being invested in public services and cost of living supports across the European Union done in buying weapons of war €90 billion delivered for Ukraine with the clear intention that the majority of that funding will be used for military purposes.” 

However, speaking at the European People's Party (EPP) conference in Zagreb, Croatia, Simon Harris said that he was "rather horrified" to see Sinn Féin's stance.

"That was a really significant development that has kind of gone nearly unnoticed in Ireland. I thought there was nearly political consensus on Ukraine in Ireland. You can't just support Ukraine with words, you've got to support it with money. The only people I've seen opposing this support was Vladimir Putin, Hungary and now the opposition party.

"I want the people of Ukraine to know that the people of Ireland stand full stead behind them for as long as it takes because sovereignity matters, territory matters. This is a war on the continent of Europe. Yes it's in the territory of Ukraine, but it affects all of our security and defence.

"I was really disappointed to see that breakdown in what I thought was political consensus."