Sinn Fein has been accused of "sulking" over its failure to form a Government, as the party was criticised for not responding to a letter from Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.

Senior Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen made the remarks as he claimed that the snub suits Sinn Fein's narrative of giving "the impression they're being left out".

He also ramped up pressure on Fine Gael over Government formation talks which he said need to accelerate due to the threats posed by the coronavirus outbreak.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted his party is preparing for opposition and will only enter Government as a last resort.

But as he heads off to the United States for St Patrick's Day festivities at the White House, another senior figure, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, has signalled wriggle room in Fine Gael's stance.

Writing in the Sunday Independent, Mr Donohoe acknowledged that Fine Gael got a "clear message" from voters in the election.

But he makes an impassioned defence of the political centre, saying "this may be our last opportunity to save it".

Since the election, Sinn Fein has repeatedly claimed its voters aren't being respected by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael's refusal to enter Government talks with the party.

Mary Lou McDonald's party has so far failed to pull together a coalition of left-wing parties and Independents.

Mr Martin wrote to Ms McDonald two weeks ago, offering to meet to discuss why the two parties aren't compatible in terms of forming a Government.

He has not yet received a response.

The pair clashed on their first day back in the Dail.

Mr Martin said he could not go into Government with Sinn Fein because of its "efforts to legitimise a murderous sectarian campaign" of the Provisional IRA.

Ms McDonald said she "did not care" what he thinks about her party.

Mr Martin's attacks against Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail's own manifesto were criticised by some TDs at a meeting of the parliamentary party last Thursday.

Fianna Fail sources have claimed Mr Martin's standing in the party has been diminished since the election and that there has been rumblings about his continued leadership among the grassroots.

Mr Cowen said that Mr Martin's continued leadership of the party is "not in question at this time", adding that he has a mandate to negotiate a programme for Government.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar revealed last week that he, too, had written to Ms McDonald seeking to discuss policy and the deadlock surrounding Government formation.

Sinn Fein says she has responded to this letter.

Mr Cowen hit out at Ms McDonald's failure to reply to Mr Martin.

He said: "It would appear Sinn Fein cannot build a functioning minority, never mind a majority," and adding "its sulking is not credible" given that it did not respond to his party leader's letter.

He claimed that the Sinn Fein manifesto was unachievable, despite its ambitions and the expectation it created with voters.

Mr Cowen said there hasn't been scrutiny of whether they could abolish property tax, student fees, or the USC for workers earning up to €30,000 as promised.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Pearse Doherty responded by saying it was Ms McDonald who first wrote to Mr Martin. He said: "We will be in further contact."

He added: "Sinn Fein said we would talk to everyone after the election and that remains our position."

"It is Fianna Fail who have tried to exclude Sinn Fein from Government formation talks. Barry Cowen knows this," Mr Doherty said.

He added that Sinn Fein has had "extensive discussions with other parties and Independents to form a Government for change. That is our objective."

Mr Doherty said his party's manifesto was fully costed.

He claimed Mr Cowen has not yet come to terms with what he described as Fianna Fail's "dismal performance" in the election.

There were discussions between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael last week. Fine Gael ministers have since said it's still their party's intention to go into opposition.

Mr Cowen said a Dail majority is crucial if the next Government is to deal with the issues facing the country and the best path to achieving this is a deal between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Greens and Independents.

Sunday Independent