Brian Stanley Addressing The Dáil Later On Tweet Controversy

Tuesday, 15 December 2020 at 06:54

Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald says he won't be resigning.

Laois-Offaly TD Brian Stanley will address the Dáil today for the first time since a number of controversial tweets led to calls for his resignation.

Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald says he won't resign but will make his position clear during the statement.

It's been over a fortnight since the chairman of the public accounts committee published a tweet about the 1979 Warrenpoint bombing which killed 35 British soldiers - prompting backlash from all corners of the Dáil.

Former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan described it as disappointing:

His party colleague Eoin Ó Broin said the comments were crass and insensitive while Labour leader Brendan Howlin called on Sinn Fein to show that there are consequences.

Deputy Stanley moved to address the issue by apologising to PAC members:

That wasn't to be the end of the matter as a further tweet surfaced from 2017, which made reference to then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's sexuality.

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris says Brian Stanley needs to apologise:

Following a week away from the political scene, the Laois-Offaly TD, along with his party will be hoping his latest address will finally put the debacle to bed...