Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has asked Sinn Fein once again to clarify their position on terrorism, after their colleagues in the European Parliament threatened to report Mr Nicholson and Diane Dodds for seeking clarification in the plenary chamber.
Mr Nicholson said:
“In March, Sinn Fein MEPs couldn’t fully support a motion supporting action against ISIS. Then, just last week in the aftermath of the brutal terrorist attacks on Paris, Phil Flanagan said he would not call ISIS “terrorists” before apparently changing his mind after universal condemnation.
“Now this week in the European Parliament, Sinn Fein’s hard left friends say they will report Unionist MEPs to the Parliament’s Bureau for demanding that Sinn Fein apologise for these remarks.
“It will come as no surprise to many that Sinn Fein find it difficult to deal with these issues, given the sordid history of provisional Republicanism. But it is time for the Sinn Fein leadership to clarify their position on ISIS: are ISIS terrorists and is terrorism justified?
“Last week, Sinn Fein were hiding behind tweets and press releases. Given that I didn’t see a single Sinn Fein MEP in the chamber during this morning’s plenary debate, are they now hiding behind their colleagues in the European Parliament?”