Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil want to dictate who's in the Government and the Opposition

HOMELESS FAMILIES with children in B&Bs and patients lying on hopsital trolleys are being forced to wait while Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael struggle to work out a way to form a government without leaving Sinn Féin as the primary opposition party, new TD David Cullinane said on Monday.

“That is completely unacceptable,” the Waterford deputy said at the doors of Leinster House.

“Brian Hayes said yesterday that leaving Sinn Féin in opposition is not in the best long-term interests of the country.

“Here we have a member of the largest party in the Dáil – a party that will nominate its leader for Taoiseach again this week – that wants to not only control the Government but also the Opposition.

“This is the main reason why both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are worried about going into Government together.

“For the first time in the history of the state, we have two parties with the same political outlook and policies with the numbers to do a deal but who are both so worried about who will be left in opposition that they are hesitating to go into Government together.”

The Sinn Féin TD called for Mícheál Martin and Enda Kenny to get on with forming an administration and addressing critical issues such as housing waiting lists, homelessness and health as well as jobs and the economy.