Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is its sixth no-confidence motion in less than three years. Instead of trying to work within the political system to make policy changes and progress and get real things done, Sinn Féin releases its keyboard warriors, placards and billboards with Ministers' faces on them. Let us look at what Sinn Féin is actually doing in a way that is consistent with its accusations. It accuses Fianna Fáil of political cowardice and an abdication of responsibility and talks about acting in the national interest. However, Sinn Féin is democratically elected to three parliaments.

Its members refuse to take their seats in one, supposedly in the interests of Sinn Féin, at a time when that parliament is making crucial decisions that will impact on this island. They pulled down another one in Northern Ireland and justified their reasons for doing so. They are doing little to rebuild it in the interests of the people.

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