Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane has said the Taoiseach should be prioritised for vaccination but should not travel to Washington.
The Government has yet to decide whether Micheál Martin will travel to the White House for the traditional St Patrick’s meeting with US President Joe Biden.
A number of his Government colleagues have said he should travel despite the ongoing coronavirus threat.
However, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she does not believe the trip is now a “real prospect at all.”
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Deputy Cullinane said he had no issue with the Taoiseach getting an early vaccination – but said the St Patrick’s Day trip should not go ahead.
“I think it is about political leadership,” he said. “I think it is also about sending out a very powerful message that people should not be travelling.
“That is the issue here because one of the problems we have is that we haven’t got issues right in relation to checks at ports and airports and I think we have to send out a very clear message that people shouldn’t be travelling at his time.”
Sinn Féin's @davidcullinane says he doesn't have a problem with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin skipping the queue to get an early vaccination, but that he shouldn't go to Washington to visit US President Joe Biden on Paddy's day.
What do you think?
— Newstalk Breakfast (@NTBreakfast) February 3, 2021
Sinn Féin has encountered criticism of its own in recent days after a number of party councillors attended the funeral party activist and former Provisional IRA member Eamonn ‘Peggy’ McCourt in Derry last week.
That followed on from controversy over party leaders attending the funeral of former IRA member Bobby Storey in west Belfast last summer.
Deputy Cullinane said Sinn Féin’s position is that “every family and every individual should support the public health guidelines.”
“The most recent funeral that is being talked about was not organised by Sinn Féin at all,” he said. “I would say to all Sinn Féin councillors that they should abide by the guidelines.”
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill attending the funeral of senior Irish Republican and former leading IRA figure Bobby Storey in west Belfast.Yesterday, Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley defended the funerals by comparing them to the service held for murdered Garda Detective Colm Horkan, when people lined the streets in spite of COVID guidelines.
Deputy Cullinane said he had not heard his colleague’s comments.
“My view is that every single person, including Sinn Féin councillors and politicians north and south, should fully support and abide by the public health guidelines,” he said.
“Very close family members of mine passed away and I was not able to go to the funerals. Friends of mine have passed away and I was not able to go to their funerals either.
“It is a very difficult time for everybody as you can appreciate.”
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