SINN FÉIN is now “the main Opposition party” in the Dáil because it had more credibility than Fianna Fáil, even though the latter party had more TDs, Gerry Adams has claimed.
The Sinn Féin leader was announcing his party’s shadow portfolios in the new Dáil, with himself covering the Taoiseach, deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald shadowing the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Donegal TD Pearse Doherty as finance spokesman.
Speaking to journalists at Leinster House, Mr Adams, who was accompanied by the other 13 members of his parliamentary party, said: “What we have tried to do is to match our TDs with their own area of interest, experience and expertise.”
He added: “We see ourselves very much as the main Opposition party here because we have credibility in terms of the issues which are bearing down upon people.
“We see our responsibility to protect lower and middle-income families, to argue very, very strongly in defence of Ireland’s national interest and to promote the objective of Irish unity.”
Asked what he meant by describing Sinn Féin as the main Opposition party, Mr Adams said: “I mean in terms of the fact that there is a sameness between the Fianna Fáil party, Fine Gael and Labour in terms of their support for austerity packages and policies.
“We have a different view on all of this and we believe that we cannot cut our way out of recession, we have to have jobs for citizens and we have to ensure that those who can pay most should pay most. We want to see an end to the universal social charge. All of these issues we will champion in the time ahead.
“Fianna Fáil have more strength in terms of their numbers than us but on policy issues we believe we have more credibility.”
Asked for his views on the situation in Libya, in the context of Col Gadafy’s past links with the republican movement, he said: “We think the Gadafy administration is wrong in the way it has been treating its own citizens.
“We don’t believe that there is any room for military actions by any element in that situation, that all those armed actions should cease and that there should be a process whereby citizens in Libya, because they have the right to self-determination, also have their democratic rights.”
SINN FÉN FRONT BENCH
Gerry Adams:Party leader, shadowing the Taoiseach
Mary Lou McDonald:Deputy leader and spokeswoman on public expenditure and reform
Aengus Ó Snodaigh:Spokesman on social protection
Pearse Doherty:Spokesman on finance
Jonathan O'Brien:Spokesman on justice, equality and defence
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn:Spokesman on foreign affairs and trade
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:Spokesman on health and children
Peadar Tóibín:Spokesman on enterprise, jobs and innovation and the Gaeltacht
Martin Ferris:Spokesman on communications, energy and natural resources
Seán Crowe:Spokesman on education and skills
Brian Stanley:Spokesman on environment, community and local government
Michael Colreavy:Spokesman on agriculture, food and marine
Dessie Ellis:Spokesman on transport and housing
Sandra McLellan:Spokeswoman on arts, heritage, tourism and sport
