There were sharp exchanges between the Tánaiste and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams during a debate on Northern Ireland.

Joan Burton said the major change in the recent agreement, A Fresh Start, was allowing welfare reform to be legislated for at Westminster. This appeared to be “fairly spectacular delegation of responsibility’’ by Sinn Féin, she added.

“Rather than confronting the issue in Northern Ireland, and taking responsibility for its decisions, it has simply ceded decision-making power to the British parliament where its members do not even take their seats,’’ she added. “What does that say about a party that has consistently called on the Irish Government to stand up to the troika, the European Union and international bodies ?’’

Ms Burton said it showed, in her mind, Sinn Féin would not be remotely capable of taking responsibility itself, unlike the Government which negotiated concessions that reduced the debt burden by tens of billions of euro.

“At the first sign of a major political challenge, Sinn Féin has, at best, simply walked off the pitch,’’ she added. “At worst, it is an enormous act of political cowardice.’’

Mr Adams said the Tánaiste’s remarks were “incoherent, barely comprehensible and have no credibility whatsoever’’. Without the recent agreement the door would have been open for a return to British direct rule and the full weight of the Tory assault on the welfare state. “The majority of citizens support the political institutions and want them to work,’’ said Mr Adams.

‘Constant crises’

“However, constant crises and lack of progress have understandably frustrated and disillusioned many, including members of Sinn Féin and representatives of Sinn Féin.’’

Mr Adams said the British government was wedded to austerity, as was the Government in the Republic, where there was inequality and poverty.

“If a person votes for the Labour party, he gets Fine Gael,’’ the Sinn Féin leader added.

Labour Minister of State Seán Sherlock suggested Sinn Féin should consider if it would continue to refuse to take it seats in Westminster. “I am not saying that people need to take their seats,’’ he added. “I am saying there that there is a debate to be had in London as well.’’

Mr Sherlock said there was a need to be honest on what they were doing. There was also a need to examine legacy issues in the North, he added. This would involve the British government, and people from other political perspectives, opening up the closets and seeing where the skeletons were.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the people of Northern Ireland deserved political institutions that worked to build a world-class infrastructure that focused on delivering high-quality, citizen-centred public services.

“Political leaders must now step up to that challenge,’’ Mr Kenny added. “They must not be found wanting in delivering on their commitments and in implementing the full range of measures that have been agreed.’’

Hard choices

He said those measures included tackling welfare reform and making hard choices to secure a balanced and sustainable budget.

“They include dismantling the final toxic traces of paramilitary structures, which have no place in a civilised, inclusive society bound by the rule of law,’’ Mr Kenny added.

Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin said much of the welfare mitigation under the agreement would come directly from funding for other public services, which was of real concern.

“In this agreement, Sinn Féin decided to hand over power to London in order to avoid having to vote for measures they were enabling,’’ Mr Martin added.