Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I express my full confidence in the Tánaiste, Deputy Varadkar. I have served in government with the Tánaiste since 2014 and knew him for many years before that. The personal and political qualities I have known in him in that time have been apparent again in recent weeks - his openness, honesty and accountability; his genuine commitment to advancing the public interest; and his willingness to acknowledge a mistake. Leo Varadkar's politics are those of decency, progress and doing the right thing by our country. His track record is clear in the leadership he demonstrated in delivering the best outcomes for our country in the many challenges of Brexit; his empathy and decisiveness in leading our country through a demanding and dark phase of Covid-19; and his unstinting support for the management of the economy, public pay and public finances, which has enabled us to meet this moment of challenge from a position of strength.

Contrast those qualities and that record with the record of the Sinn Féin Party. Its attack today is the same as it ever was and ever will be. It is a single transferable critique of our political system, a claim that others act in the interests of elites and insiders. Sinn Féin would have us believe it occupies the high moral ground and is interested only in the public good. I suspect its Members know this is rhetoric. Deputy Ó Broin recently described this as the political tactic of left populism. Position oneself as the real representative of the real people and condemn the rest of the political system as acting in the interests of others. We can see the dark places that this kind of politics can lead to. It is not, I believe, the politics of the majority of this House or the majority of our country.

Sinn Féin does not appeal to the better angels of our nature. Instead, it seeks to arouse the darker spirits to make its case. It is a deeply cynical politics that Sinn Féin has practised for too long. It is for EU membership but against every treaty that has brought our country closer to Europe. It is for jobs and business but against every economic decision pursued by this State in our modern era. That is the politics of division. It is the defining feature of Sinn Féin's politics and it is encapsulated in the motion today.

While Sinn Féin positions itself as the only party on the side of ordinary people, it is more in bed with big money than any party in this Dáil. Sinn Féin is the richest party on the island of Ireland, as its finance director confirmed earlier this year, with many staff and an extensive property network across the island. This network comprises 50 properties, which does not compare with any other party. Equally, no other party funds itself like Sinn Féin. Was the banning of corporate donations by a previous Fine Gael-led Government, which has been maintained by recent Governments, the act of a political party that wants to protect an inner circle and keep an old boys' club going? That type of behaviour better matches the description of Sinn Féin. As its finance director told The Irish Timesearlier in the year:

Way back, we brought the bulk of it [which is money] into here [which is the Republic]. It helped us build ... the party a lot. It was a lot of money.

Sinn Féin always wants to point the finger rather than point the way. It speaks - and Deputy McDonald spoke - of undermining the State. There is no party less qualified to warn this Government of undermining the State than Sinn Féin. It looks to provide heat, not light.It looks to provide sound and fury, signifying and advancing nothing but its own political interests. This is in contrast with the Tánaiste, which is why I have full confidence in him. He serves and looks to serve our country with distinction. He acts in the public good and looks to advance the public interest. That is his track record and that is why he deserves the support of this House.

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