Politics

The scrum wheels on Sinn Féin

Inside Politics: Focus on SF view on Special Criminal Court as campaign enters week two

Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Cllr Máire Devine, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams TD and Cllr Darren O’Rourke at the launch of a billboard campaign outside the Mater Hospital, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Cllr Máire Devine, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams TD and Cllr Darren O’Rourke at the launch of a billboard campaign outside the Mater Hospital, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Fiach Kelly
Mon Feb 08 2016 - 10:10

Sinn Féin had a good start to the campaign last week and took credit for highlighting the confusion over the Government’s figures on the fiscal space.

That was last week, however, and the opening of week two of the campaign begins with all other parties attacking Sinn Féin on a flank where it is politically weak to all but its hardcore of supporters.

The shocking shooting in the Regency Hotel has brought security issues to the fore of the campaign with Fianna Fáil yesterday citing the slow response times of An Garda Síochána to years of neglect by the Government.

But it is Sinn Féin that is bearing the brunt of the political fallout from the shooting because of its policy of abolishing the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Fianna Fáil's Niall Collins claimed the SCC is acutely needed now to tackle organised crime and accused Sinn Féin of being unfit for government.

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On Newstalk's Shane Coleman show on Sunday, Mary Lou McDonald was repeatedly pressed by Fine Gael director of elections Brian Hayes to express her support for the policy and to repeat her description of Thomas 'Slab' Murphy as a good republican. McDonald was clearly uncomfortable and called Hayes a "gurrier". Enda Kenny also last night said Sinn Féin are unfit for government.

Gerry Adams suggested those who sit on juries and witnesses in such serious cases could be put in a witness protection process style programme. His press conference statements gave the Independentto blare "Adams: 'gangland' doesn't really exist" across its front page.

The weekend skirmishes over the Regency Attacks are likely only a preview of what its to come later in the week when “good republican” Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy is sentenced by the Special Criminal Court for tax evasion.

We love the public service - honestly

Fine Gael will today launch its plan to invest in public services over the lifetime of the next government, and it is expected the party will detail its intentions to hire 10,000 extra “gardai, teachers, nurses, doctors and social workers to improve people’s lives and protect the most vulnerable”.

Its political opponents have identified Fine Gael's record on and commitment to public services as its weak spot and will likely seize on a weekend interview in which Leo Varadkar said more hospital beds can slow down hospital staff.

The lead story in The Irish Times will also provide ammunition for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and others. Martin Wall reveals that the HSE is planning to implement curbs on recruitment across the health sector, despite promises to hire more staff. Martin Wall's analysis is here.

In the correspondence obtained by Wall, the HSE said cutting back on recruitment is "an important individual challenge in terms of our credibility with the Department of Health, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Government etc around financial control and accountability for same".

Whatever about impressing Varadkar and Brendan Howlin with their initiative, it can be safely assumed the two Ministers will not be as pleased with the HSE's timing - smack bang in the middle of the election campaign.