Fine Gael TD’s objection to Easter Lily another example of anti-Republican bias

Fine Gael TD’s objection to Easter Lily another example of anti-Republican bias Cork North Central Sinn Féin TD, Jonathan O’Brien, has said that the objections raised by Fine Gael deputy Charlie Flanagan to the wearing of the Easter Lily in the Dáil reflected is own “deep-rooted prejudices”. During a Dáil sitting on Tuesday, Deputy Flanagan disrupted the debate when he challenged Sinn Féin TDs Brian Stanley and Michael Colreavy on the wearing of the Lily and called on the Ceann Comhairle to make a ruling on matter under the Dáil Standing Orders. Deputy O’Brien said: “The outrageous attempt by Charlie Flanagan to prevent Sinn Féin Deputies from honouring Ireland’s patriot dead by wearing a commemorative Easter Lily reflects his own deep-rooted prejudices and his loathing of all things Republican. “I would remind Deputy Flanagan that without the sacrifice of generations of men and women who fought British Imperialism, he would never have had the opportunity to stand here as a parliamentarian and make such ludicrous statements. “The offense taken by Deputy Flanagan to the wearing of an Easter Lily is in sharp contrast to the tolerance he showed last November to the display of the poppy by some his party colleagues. “Deputy Flanagan and others within Fine Gael might be ashamed of their past but they will not bully Sinn Féin TDs from wearing a symbol that commemorates the Easter Rising and the sacrifice of those who fought and died for Irish freedom.”