Adams Slams Fine Gael And Fianna Fáil Over "Phoney War"

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are engaged in a "phoney war" over who controls government, according to Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams.

Teachta Adams said both parties "need to make up their minds" over the new political landscape and accept they can no longer control both government and opposition between them.

Speaking from Leinster House today, 05 April, Mr Adams said: "Before the general election Enda Kenny made serial announcements that Fine Gael would not be part of any government which would be beholding to any independents. Now he is doing the exact opposite.

"For their part the independents presented themselves as being opposed to the political parties. Now some of them are facilitating a charade of ‘negotiations' with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil which is totally at odds with their anti Fine Gael and anti Fianna Fáil posturing during the election campaign.

"Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have the numbers to form a government. But instead of engaging in meaningful talks Fianna Fáil have protracted a phoney war with Fine Gael and seem determined to put the Dáil through another vote for Taoiseach tomorrow which cannot possibly succeed."

Mr Adams said while the political situation was ongoing, the crisis of homelessness and the Irish health service was "intensifying".

"The Fianna Fáil party which wrecked the economy and Fine Gael which perpetuated the damage and forced working people to bear the brunt of their punitive policies need to make up their minds about their plans for government," he said.

"They need to get their heads around the new political reality that for the first time in the history of the state these two parties cannot control both government and opposition between them.  There has been a seismic shift in Irish politics and they need to get their heads around that."

(LM)