Stanley to address PAC over controversial tweet
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The Ceann Comhairle has told DUP leader Arlene Foster that a controversial tweet by Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley will require “a credible political response”.
However, Seán Ó Fearghaíl said that while he was “ personally appalled and profoundly dismayed by its contents” it would not be necessary to take action if the tweet is addressed by Mr Stanley.
“I must be particularly conscious of the independent and non-partisan nature of my office. Nonetheless, I do believe that the statement on Twitter made by Deputy Stanley calls for a credible political response — one which sincerely acknowledges the hurt and offence caused to the families.”
Mr Stanley is to address the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on a controversial tweet he sent celebrating two historical IRA attacks on the British army.
He sent a tweet on Saturday celebrating two historical IRA attacks on the British army.
He said the two attacks “taught the elective of [the] British army and the establishment the cost of occupying Ireland. Pity for everyone they were such slow learners.”
However, Mr Stanley, who has since issued an apology and deleted to tweet, will not face any further sanctions and is to remain on as chair of the PAC, Mary-Lou McDonald has said.
The party leadership has moved to strongly defend Mr Stanley with Ms McDonald stating that the tweet was a "once-off".
PAC vice-chair Catherine Murphy said members of the committee want to hear from Mr Stanley at their meeting tomorrow and she will be expecting a full explanation, however, she said the decision around his position is one for Sinn Féin.
The Social Democrats co-leader said: "The chair of the PAC is a responsible and high-profile post and that is where there is a concern.
"The committee does not elect the chair, so this is really very much down to Sinn Féin and down to himself," she said
Sinn Féin's finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said removing him as chair is "not going to happen".
A number of members of the committee, including Fine Gael's Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, had suggested that Mr Stanley should recuse himself from the chair, but Ms Mc Donald also ruled this out.
Ms McDonald said: "He has apologised and he has withdrawn the tweet, that's the most important thing for me and secondly, I feel absolutely certain that this was a singular mistake by Brian Stanley and one that will not be repeated.
"Brian is a very effective, very even-handed, and a very fair chair of the Public Accounts Committee. It is a very important committee, the work is essential and he is anxious and I am anxious that he continues with that work," Ms McDonald said.
She added that the is "more than fit" to chair the committee and again said she would not be asking him to step aside.
Mr Doherty echoed this, describing the Laois-Offaly TD as a "decent person" and a "highly capable politician".
"I think it's very clear from the response of both myself and other members of the leadership that the tweet that was issued by Brian Stanley was inappropriate was insensitive was hurtful."
He said Sinn Féin has reached out to victims of the conflict and have worked to heal the wounds of the Troubles.
Asked if she would apologise to those caught up in the atrocity, Ms McDonald told RTÉ's : "The parachute regiment has a very particular history here in Ireland, I could reference Bloody Sunday and the Ballymurphy massacre, all of the events that flowed from that, I want to apologise universally to people, who like me, like all of us wish to forge a constructive pathway ahead and for whom that particular tweet jarred because it goes against the grain of what is a challenging proposition on the one hand, to honestly recall and remember our history and what happened."