by Alan Jacques
NEWCASTLE West Sinn Féin councillor Seamus Browne has called on Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan to explain why he disagrees with Garda statements over illegal fuel laundering.
Deputy O’Donovan last week stated that some political parties are mysterious about their funding and could be getting revenue from illegal fuel smuggling. He said the government needs to stop “pussy-footing” around the issue.
Cllr Browne pointed out that Deputy O’Donovan suggested that Sinn Féin was involved in illegal activities despite the Garda Commissioner denying this. Cllr Browne said this was a blatant attempt to politicise the issue and deflect from genuine efforts to tackle the problem.
“Sinn Féin has been vociferous in its condemnation of illegal fuel laundering and I reject Deputy O’Donovan’s allegation which was nothing more than a political slur.
“Even the Garda Commissioner, in a letter to Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, says that the Gardaí have no information to support assertions that ‘the Provisional IRA still maintains its military structure and confines its criminal activities to fuel laundering, cigarette-smuggling and counterfeiting’,” he explained.
“If Fine Gael is up for genuinely tackling the issue then they should take a lead on it in the Dáil and publish the required legislation.
“If Deputy O’Donovan was concerned with tackling this issue he would support the recommendations of the report the Northern Assembly that calls for legislation on both sides of the border to help authorities tackle the problem.
“This would be preferable to engaging in empty political taunts which are not supported by the Gardaí,” Cllr Browne concluded.
