FIANNA Fail leader Micheal Martin has insisted there are “no new faces” in Sinn Fein as Gerry Adams prepares to set out his plans to step down as president of his party.
Speaking at the Fianna Fail president’s dinner in Dublin, Mr Martin said Sinn Fein has always been about putting the Provisional IRA first and insisted a new leader will not change this policy.
“They will change their leader, but the core of the Provisional movement’s approach to politics remains and has been constantly reaffirmed by all of their prospective leaders,” he said.
Mr Martin said Mr Adams’ successors, who include Sinn Fein vice president Mary Lou McDonald, have remained loyal to republican movement in spite of revelations of criminality, sex abuse and a barrage of bullying allegations.
“So please, spare us the idea that we are getting a new departure or a new generation from Sinn Fein. Instead of wasting time about their future political strategies, they need to be held to account for their actions today,” he said.
Mr Martin said there would be a “huge amount of overblown commentary” about how Mr Adams’ decision to step aside would be a “major turning point” for Sinn Fein.
However, the Fianna Fail leader said this is “simply not true”.
“Today’s Sinn Fein has always been about putting the Provisional movement first. The party is much more than the person and the party remains as unreformed and as unsuitable for government as ever,” he added.
