Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has described the Greek Parliament’s vote to accept the international bailout as a total humiliation for Sinn Fein, given that party’s public support for the anti-austerity rhetoric which the left-wing Syriza led Greek Government abandoned last night.   

Lord Empey said:

“The deal agreed this week between the left wing Greek government and its international creditors, marks the total humiliation of Sinn Fein. Earlier this year, the present Greek finance Minister, Euclid Tsakalotos, was feted at the Sinn Fein conference following the victory of the Syriza party led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in the January elections. On 8th July, the Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson addressed the European Parliament in the presence of Greek Prime Minister Tsipras, telling him that 'from Kerry to Derry you stood up for Ireland - the Irish people stand with you - democracy won!'

“Of course Ms Anderson spoke after the Greek people voted to reject the deal offered by Brussels only to find that less than a week later, Mr Tsipras and his colleagues had done a complete U-turn and accepted even tougher conditions as part of the bailout than were on offer before the Greek people voted in a farcical referendum!

“Since the Syriza government came into office the Greek economy has virtually collapsed; the banks are insolvent and the Greek people are facing a totally unsustainable debt burden.

“Throughout all of this, Sinn Fein held up the Greek government and its policies as a shining example of 'alternative economics' that should be followed in the Irish Republic and the same failed tactics are leading Sinn Fein to cripple our own Executive at Stormont.

“Following the climb down by Tsipras, some Sinn Fein spokespersons tried to distance themselves from the evolving mess in Athens, but Sinn Fein support for the Greek Government's policies is on the record and cannot be hidden from public scrutiny.

“There is a lesson in all of this for voters in the Irish Republic and in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein's 'voodoo economics' will only lead to penury and desolation for the most vulnerable in society. They would destroy any chance of an economic recovery from the crash of 2008 and lead ultimately to bankruptcy.

“It is sad to say that as long as Sinn Fein is addicted to this strategy then our Assembly is paralysed and unable to help the people of Northern Ireland achieve greater economic prosperity.”