Fine Gael minister rattled by growing support for Sinn Féin and other Left parties

CLAIMS by Fine Gael Junior Minister Dara Murphy that Sinn Féin is as dangerous as France's far-right Front National have been dismissed by Sinn Féin as “desperate pre-election bluster” which expose how the Government is rattled by the growing support for the Right2Change movement.

Minister for European Affairs and Data Protection Dara Murphy hit out at Sinn Féin and the Anti-Austerity Alliance during his election launch in Cork North Central, telling supporters:

“Sinn Féin is in my opinion one of the most reckless, dangerous and populist parties in the European Union.” 

 The Fine Gael TD – who in 2010 had to pay €35,000 in settlements to Revenue after his catering business collapsed – claimed that a government of Sinn Féin and left-wing parties would be bad for business, saying “the Sinn Féin TD in Cork North Central and the party as a whole has delivered nothing.”

However, Jonathan O'Brien was quick to point out:

“I have done far more than Dara in the last five years. I have introduced several pieces of legislation and, as far as I know, Dara has introduced none.”

Statistics from 2015 confirm the Sinn Féin TD's statement. In the 2015 term Jonathan O'Brien TD spoke in 87 different Dáil debates – more than twice as many as Minister Dara O'Brien. 

 Jonathan O'Brien had also submitted 427 written questions – one of the highest amongst TDs – to various ministers on behalf of constituents covering a broad range of topics.

The Fine Gael Minister went on to claim a left-wing Government would lead to 'chaos'. 

 Jonathan O'Brien said the current Government has caused chaos across Irish society:

“People on trolleys is chaos. Irish Water is chaos. The housing crisis is chaos. The only chaos in the last five years has been on the Fine Gael and Labour government’s side,” he said.