The Fianna Fáil leader has not minced his words here.
Micheál Martin has criticised Prime Minster Borish Johnson for his refusal to engage with the Taoiseach about Brexit since he was elected last week.
Martin took to Twitter to say: “To be absolutely clear; the refusal by PM Boris Johnson to engage with European leaders and our Taoiseach without pre conditions on the issue of Brexit is unacceptable and is not within the realms of normal diplomatic or political behaviour.”
To be absolutely clear; the refusal by PM Boris Johnson to engage with European leaders and our Taoiseach without pre conditions on the issue of Brexit is unacceptable and is not within the realms of normal diplomatic or political behaviour.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 30, 2019
Martin’s statement came after one of his party members, Timmy Dooley, criticised the Taoiseach’s “failure to engage in basic diplomacy over the past two years.”
Dooley tweeted: “The stand off with our nearest neighbour is as a direct result of Taoiseach Varadkars failure to engage in basic diplomacy over the past 2 years. The Governments lack of experience and arrogance will hurt Ireland in the coming months.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has said that Fianna Fáil’s stance on Brexit is ‘confusing, unhelpful and wrong’.
Sean Crowe also weighed in, saying: “At a time when a ‘no-deal’ Brexit looks ever more likely given the recent installation of Boris Johnson as British Prime Minister, alongside a hard-Brexiteer British Cabinet, it is vital to ensure that the political consensus that has built up around Brexit is maintained and not undermined.
“That means no hard border on the island of Ireland, it means protecting our all-island economy and it means defending the Good Friday Agreement.
“I am, however more than a little perplexed by the Fianna Fáil position on all of this in recent days and weeks. They appear to be saying that the Irish position – as endorsed by the Dáil – is too stringent, yet they offer nothing by way of substance as an alternative.
“It’s a position that is confusing, unhelpful and wrong. The fact is that they can’t have it both ways – they either stand against a hard Brexit, or they don’t. That’s the bottom line.
“All parties need to make it crystal clear that the government and the EU need to stick to their position – that the Withdrawal Agreement is the only show in town and as part of that a ‘backstop’ is essential. No ifs. No buts.”
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