Good morning.
The crisis in Sinn Féin continues unabated.
It’s hard to imagine a worse lead-in to a general election for a political party, with two TDs overboard within days of each other, a child sex offences scandal and revelations that the party failed to publicly reveal that Niall Ó Donnghaile last year stepped down as a senator over inappropriate messages sent to a teenager.
In the case of former press officer Michael McMonagle, who pleaded guilty to child sex offences, Sinn Féin has put up the defence that it was not aware that employment references were given to him and has criticised the two former party officials who provided them.
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In terms of the resignation of Kildare South TD Patricia Ryan, the party has defended its treatment of her, effectively accusing her of throwing her toys out of the pram because she did not want a contested selection convention, even though she has raised concerns over censorship and vetting.
And then on the resignation of Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin’s defence is that it acted within its own processes and procedures in investigating a complaint against him, despite him citing the party’s use of what resembled a “kangaroo court” upon his exit.
Now, the party’s defence for not revealing that Ó Donnghaile (who was suspended last September) resigned as a senator because of inappropriate messages to a teenager is that it was worried about his mental health.
But none of that explains why party leader Mary Lou McDonald saw fit to issue a press release upon the “official” announcement of his resignation in December, where she said that he had been dealing with health challenges which spanned “the past number of months”. She also praised his work over the previous years.
All of this is outlined in our lead story today, where we report that Sinn Féin is facing renewed pressure amid political charges that it may have misled the Oireachtas with that tribute to Ó Donnghaile last year.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said it “appears the Oireachtas was misled on the full reasons” for the former senator’s resignation.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said Ó Donnghaile continued to hold office between September and December of last year even though he had been suspended, and that McDonald’s tribute to him suggested the only reason he was standing down was for ill health.
Government TDs have indicated that they will keep the pressure up. Fine Gael TD Ciarán Cannon has questioned whether there may be a role for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, and Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy said the Sinn Féin leadership needs to answer “detailed questions” about these developments.
Meanwhile, here is the The Irish Times view on Sinn Féin’s crisis which details how, over the course of the last two weeks, the public has been presented with evidence of serial failures of governance and management.
Taoiseach pledges to raise the worsening Middle East situation on EU trips
Taoiseach Simon Harris is in Brussels today for the first summit meeting between the EU and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman). He will attend a meeting of the European Council on Thursday and has promised to raise the ongoing crisis in the Middle East on both days.
“EU leaders and leaders from the wider Middle East region have a responsibility to do all we can to bring an end to the devastating violence we are witnessing with horror. I have repeatedly said that the international community – all countries and organisations – must use all levers at our disposal to bring about a ceasefire,” he said ahead of his trip.
“The European Council must deliver a strong and united message. I will continue my call, together with Prime Minister Sanchez of Spain, for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which has only become more pressing since the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in July on Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.”
The Irish Times also reported last night that the United States has told Israel it must take steps in the next month to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or face potential restrictions on US military aid, in the strongest such warning since Israel’s war with Hamas began a year ago.
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Playbook
Dáil Eireann
Topical Issues are up first at 9.10am, followed by private members’ business just before 10am, when the Independent Group will bring a motion on the VAT rate for the hospitality sector.
Leaders’ Questions are up at noon, followed by questions on policy or legislation. Taoiseach’s questions are up just after lunch, followed by Government Business where the Finance Bill will go through second stage, and the Social Welfare Bill 2024 is expected to pass fully through the Oireachtas, which will do absolutely nothing to tamp down general election speculation.
Just before 8pm is Government business, with the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 up before the Dáil adjourns around 11pm.
Seanad Éireann
In the Seanad, commencement matters are up at 10.30am followed by the order of business an hour later. A motion will then be brought on strengthening the security of identity cards of EU citizens.
At 12.45pm, the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Bill will undergo committee and remaining stages. Private members’ business is up at 3pm, with legislation to protect of the native Irish honeybee.
The best of the rest can be found here.
Committees
The committees will be busy considering the supplementary estimates (extra money) that different departments need, including a hearing of the Oireachtas Committee on Health at 9.30am which will hear from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.
At 1.30pm, the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media will discuss the State’s response to online disinformation, including social media and fake news.
At the same time, the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications will hold a discussion with Kieran Mulvey on his appointment as the chair designate of An Post.
The best of the rest can be found here.
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