Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald on arrival at Leinster House, Dublin, for the first sitting of the 33rd Dail (Brian Lawless/PA)

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin launched a scathing attack on Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Féin during a heated debate on the first day of the new Dáil.

Mr Martin said he could not go into go into government with Sinn Féin because of the party’s “efforts to legitimise a murderous sectarian campaign” of the Provisional IRA.

“Every single time an issue arises about the behaviour of people associated with the Provisionals movement and today’s Sinn Féin the response is to attack and dismiss,” Mr Martin said.

“Only when the evidence keeps piling up and the political pressure grows is there any movement.

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Offers to meet are expressed and calls for cooperation with law enforcement are issues – but nothing ever happens,” he added.

Mr Martin said the “glorifying of the Provisional IRA isn’t an accident of one Deputy’s exuberance” in reference to Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane saying “up the RA” at post election event.

He said Ms McDonald “praised Provisional IRA units” and when she ends speeches with ‘Tiocfaidh ár lá’

“She knows full and well what the use of that phrase means. Popularised first by Gerry Adams, for decades it was shouted in our courts to signal a refusal to recognise this democratic republic,” he added.

Ms McDonald responded saying she “did not care” what Mr Martin thinks about her party.

She said Sinn Féin lives “rent free in Micheal Martin’s narrow and bitter mind”.

Ms McDonald also noted that Mr Martin sat around the cabinet table with people who have been jailed for corruption.

Online Editors