Fine Gael/Labour leaders reminded they sit with Sinn Féin ministers on all-Ireland Ministerial Council

CLAIMS by leading figures in Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil that Sinn Féin is not fit for Government have been challenged as dangerous nonsense by Martin McGuinness. The Sinn Féin leader is joint head of the North's Executive Government and the man who has negotiated at the top tables with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and British Prime Minister while Sinn Féin has shared power with Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson.

“Fine Gael and Labour ministers sit with me on the all-Ireland Ministerial Council,” the Sinn Féin leader said. “They have negotiated alongside of us. Their official works with us day in and day out.”

He said their public positions attacking Sinn Féin for electoral self-interest “gives succour” to those opposed to power sharing and the Good Friday Agreement.

“Progress in the North cannot be collateral damage in the election campaigns of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil,” Martin McGuinness insisted.

“If we had listened to the advice of the leader of Fianna Fáil, the institution in the North would be collapsed.”

Speaking at an event in Tullamore on Friday night to support Offaly Sinn Féin Dáil election candidate Carol Nolan, Martin McGuinness said it will be up to the electorate to determine who is fit for government – not Fine Gael/Labour or Fianna Fáil.

“It is up to the people to decide. Do they stick with the parties of boom, bust and broken promises or do they seize this moment in time to elect a progressive republican government?

“I will say this – when Sinn Féin makes a promise we keep it.

“Sinn Féin has delivered in the Peace Process.

“We now have stability, peace and progress.

“When others said the conflict was intractable, we persevered.

“And we delivered.”

Sinn Féin's most senior minister in the North's Government said that David Cameron's right-wing Conservative Party in London – which still dictates the Budget and fiscal powers available to the Assembly at Stormont – is following the lead of Fine Gael in terms of economic policy.

“It also appears that Fine Gael are following the election strategy of the Tories. The Tories used 'Project Fear' in the last election to scare the people.

“Fine Gael have employed the same tactic and same people in their campaign,” he said in a reference to what had been a secret meeting between Enda Kenny's most trusted Fine Gael election strategists and their Conservative Party counterparts just before Christmas as revealed by the Irish Times.

Martin McGuinness said that “Fine Gael might be into the politics of fear – we are for the politics of hope”.

He said Sinn Féin has a plan to deliver a fair recovery.

“We have demonstrated in the North that Sinn Féin in Government secures public services and delivers jobs.

“I have sat in board rooms of multinationals; I’ve made the pitch and delivered the jobs.

“I have worked with three American Presidents and three British Prime Ministers and numerous heads of state.

”I have built up working relationships with Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and other leaders of unionism.

“Together we have delivered jobs, investment and peace.”

Urging people to elect Sinn Féin TDs and other candidates standing on the Right2Change platform, Martin McGuinness ended by reminding people:

“100 years ago, James Connolly said ‘Opportunities are there for those who seize them.'”