Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has written a letter to the Ceann Comhairle about remarks made by Taoiseach Michéal Martin against him that were “untrue and designed to smear.”
The Meath TD has asked for the record to be corrected on Martin’s assertion that Tóibín supported the blocking of roads and the ports. Tóibín was unable to reply at the time due to rules in the chamber.
Tóibín said: “Mícheál Martin has been trying to blacken the name of the protestors all week. In the Dáil he has repeatedly smeared me, claiming I supported the blockade of the oil refinery and of the motorways. I did not tell people to block the roads or the ports. Nobody wants to see that happen.
“It seems he is not happy to just blacken the name of the protesters, he is also trying to blacken politicians who stand up for them. It is an attempt to undermine me.
“He is not telling the truth. That was not our strategy. We urged government to have a meeting with the protesters. We were trying to facilitate a solution. We supported the objective of tax being reduced on hard-pressed families and we demanded that the government talk to these people. That would have cleared the streets immediately.
“However, the Taoiseach made a serious and unfounded allegation in the chamber when he claimed that I supported blockades. That claim is categorically false. It’s wrong and misleading.
“At no point have I called for, encouraged, or supported blockades or any form of illegal activity.”
“So I have written to the Ceann Comhairle – and the Taoiseach – to correct the record on this. It is the only recourse, as I could not respond in the moment.”
The Meath TD was been repeatedly singled out by the Taoiseach, who has wrongly framed him of being part of the blockades. His most recent attack was in the Dail chamber during leader’s questions this week when he told Toibin: “You supported the blockade of the oil refinery. You went on the platform and supported the blockade of the motorway and ports.”
He also mischaracterised Tóibín as egging on blockades at the key government press conference held in response to the crisis, last Sunday night.
