Brian Hayes MEP labelling Sinn Féin 'anti-foreign' is 'childish and false'

COMMENTS from Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes on Wednesday in which he implied Sinn Féin blames foreigners for Ireland's economic mess have been described as "laughable, ignorant and inaccurate" by Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan.

Attempting to lump Sinn Féin in with far-right and anti-immigrant British and French parties, Hayes told EuroParl Radio on Wednesday morning:

"I think we need to have an honest debate rather than this kind of ‘attacking Johnny Foreigner’, UKIP, Au Francais National, Sinn Féin position."

Lynn Boylan accused Hayes of "losing the run of himself" with his "latest round of untrue and childish commentary":

"For Brian Hayes to equate the thousands of people out on the streets protesting against austerity and the water charges as being somehow racist and anti-European is very ignorant."

Hayes has a history of attempting to portray Sinn Féin as a racist party. 

During the 2011 general election campaign he was criticised for a slur in which he said Sinn Féin was a "blacks out party".

Hayes has continued to perpetuate his inaccurate view of Sinn Féin as a right-wing, anti-immigrant party despite recent local elections in which Sinn Féin's Edmond Lukusa made history as the only black immigrant candidate elected to a local authority. 

During the same election, Brian Hayes's Fine Gael colleague, Darren Scully, was elected to Kildare County Council after stating he would not represent "black African" constituents.

Hayes was previously criticised for calling for immigrant children in Irish schools to be "segregated" from other students until they were proficient in the English language. His comments were described as "discriminatory, inequitable and deeply flawed" by teachers' union INTO.

Lynn Boylan said Brian Hayes's time would be better spent looking out for his constituents back home:

"The Irish people want someone to be seen to be standing up for them in Europe and challenging things and not just getting the pat on the head like Brian Hayes who just wants to be the best boy in the class."