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The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will not resign his post over controversial remarks he made linking the War of Independence to Northern Ireland’s troubles.
Sinn Féin’s TD Brian Stanley will make a statement to Dáil on Tuesday, but will not resign or answer questions about his comments, for which he has already apologized.
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said Monday morning that Stanley will not announce his resignation as PAC chairman when he makes a statement to Dáil about his controversial tweets.
“He will make a personal statement to the Dáil as requested by the Ceann Comhairle. Brian will prepare his post, make his position clear. Brian is an honorable person, “he told RTÉ radio
Stanley would not be answering questions, he said, as individual members of the House, no matter what party they belong to, must respond and be accountable to the people, not the Dáil.
“Individual members of the House are not accountable to the Dáil, they are accountable to the people, but any of us can take the opportunity to make a personal statement and that is what Brian has done within the rules. That doesn’t mean answering questions, it never has. ”
When asked if Sinn Féin, as a party, has a problem with its members’ behavior on social media, McDonald said everyone needs to take into account what they are raising online.
“I think certainly the Sinn Féin deputies have learned a very valuable lesson and it is this, that if others, whoever they are, choose to review their publications for years and years and years ago and if they are going to find things that are misjudged or frankly fools well then they’ll use it to get you behind the eight ball and score a political point against you, ”said the Dublin Central TD.
“That is the most general lesson here about the use of social media platforms, which by the way are powerful platforms, very often platforms for good, to tell stories, to transmit information, to gather opinions and campaigns for the well, very often, but they can also be misused or carelessly used, there is a lesson in that for all of us. ”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that, in his opinion, Sinn Féin’s TD Brian Stanley could answer questions in the Public Accounts Committee about his controversial tweets.
“He could very well answer questions, there is no problem in terms of why he wouldn’t,” Martin said.
“I accept that normally it is the government ministers who answer the questions, but I think in relation to some of his tweets, particularly in relation to what he said in terms of Narrow Water Bridge and the British establishment, the assassination of Lord Mountbatten and those young people, who I believe was one of the great crimes against humanity that we have experienced in the last 40 years.
“I think you need to apologize for that and also for the tweet regarding Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, which is something I think you should take into account.”
When asked if Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald should remove Stanley from his post as PAC chair, Martin said he would rather wait and see what Stanley has to say.
“I would like to see what you have to say tomorrow and I would like to give you that opportunity in the Public Accounts and give your statement and full apology,” said the Taoiseach.
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