The Fianna Fáil-Green Party government had become a “pantomime” and should step down, Sinn Fein Vice-President Mary Lou McDonald said at the opening of the party’s two-day ardfheis in the RDS tonight.
Referring to the ardfheis themes of “jobs, fairness, equality and unity”, the former MEP for Dublin said these were also the objectives of Sinn Fein.
“Never have these objectives been more relevant or urgent as now,” she said.
“We can build prosperity for all, get people back to work, stem the tide of emigration. We can succeed.”
In an attack on the coalition government she said: “They have spent much time agonising over jobs - their jobs. The pantomime has played out - will Willie go? will Trevor go? will John stay?
“The whole lot of them should go, and go now,” she added.
Introducing the debate on International Affairs, Northern Ireland Junior Minister Gerry Kelly MLA said: “It is one of the great truths of freedom fighter that, even in the midst of the worst turmoil in their own countries or in their personal lives, they dig deeper and find time to give to other comrades and communities who need help.”
Speaking in Irish on the situation in the Middle East, Bairbre de Brún MEP said: “I recently returned from Gaza, having visited there previously just after the Israeli military offensive a year before.
“Whilst some rubble has been cleared, little has been done to reconstruct what was destroyed; there is still no accountability in relation to the death, injury and destruction during that offensive, and the people of Gaza have not been able to rebuild their lives.
“There must be free movement of people and goods for any progress to take place, and Israel must also end its colonisation of the West Bank.
“The daily building of settlements, the destruction of Palestinian homes, the severe restrictions on free movement of Palestinians and the lack of progress with regards to the rebuilding of Gaza have left Palestinians feeling abandoned by the international community.
“The present situation is extremely damaging for the prospects for peace and for Palestinian unity and reconciliation.
“The siege must end, and the Goldstone report’s recommendations implemented in order for an inclusive and just negotiation process to begin,” Ms de Brún said.