Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, has described talk of a coalition with Sinn Féin as nonsensical and concerning.
“Putting the history associated with Sinn Féin aside for a moment, their economic policies alone would disqualify them from ever entering government as part of a coalition with Fine Gael. In addition to that, I am of the belief such a proposal would simply not receive support from Fine Gael Parliamentary Party members, our extensive membership across the country or mine, for that matter.
“Sinn Féin’s economic policies would be detrimental to our country and, furthermore, given the hypocrisy between the policy they advocate here and those which have been implemented in the North where Sinn Féin have been in a position of government, the simple fact is, we do not know what they would actually do if they ever did make it into a position of authority here.
“Should Sinn Féin ever enter a coalition government in the Republic, I cannot imagine it ever being with Fine Gael. I would say that the likelihood of them making it into government would be at the discretion of others in the opposition benches, specifically, Fianna Fail, should the prospect arise.
“In short, Fine Gael entering coalition with Sinn Féin would be nonsensical both in terms of policy and ideology.”