Gerry Adams dismisses Fianna Fáil leader's speech as a 'desperate hysterical rant'

GERRY ADAMS TD has dismissed a speech by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin at Arbour Hill on Sunday as a "hysterical rant" and "a sign of desperation at the growth of Sinn Féin and the stagnation of his own party".

The Fianna Fáil leader delivered the main oration at his party's commemoration for the leaders of 1916. However, Martin used the address to attack Sinn Féin – mentioning the party no less than 14 times and claiming Sinn Féin is "unfit for participation in a democratic republican government."

Responding to the comments, Gerry Adams TD said:

"Micheál Martin's claim that Sinn Féin is not fit for democratic government is a matter which the electorate will decide. Sinn Féin has a mandate in both part's of this island."

Noting that Micheál Martin was part of the leadership of Fianna Fáil which destroyed the economy and surrendered the sovereignty of the state, he said:

"His speech majors on negativity and invective but offers no message of hope or policy proposals which could build a better future. Micheál Martin clearly sees Sinn Féin representing a genuine republican alternative to which citizens are turning in ever greater numbers and his remarks must be seen in this context."

Sinn Féin Councillor Chris Andrews, formerly a Fianna Fáil TD, dismissed Martin's speech as "a desperate attempts to try and make Fianna Fáil relevant at a time when it is rudderless," adding:

"Fianna Fáil has long since abandoned the ordinary communities and working families it was founded to represent and whilst it pays lip service to its Republican roots by calling itself ‘the Republican party’, its attempt to somehow claim the mantel of the 1916 Rising does nothing to mask the fact it has all but given up on bringing the Republic proclaimed in 1916 to fruition."