Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty has called Sinn Féin’s MEPs “shameful” for voting against a €90 billion support package for Ukraine.
Sinn Féin’s two MEPs, Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funcion, along with left-wing independent Luke “Ming” Flanagan, voted against the bill, a move which Doherty dubbed “hypocritical and completely out of touch”.
Doherty noted that Sinn Féin’s elected representatives have “claimed solidarity”, with Ukraine since the invasion started in 2022, but voted against European Parliament legislation to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan.
The Sinn Féin line of reasoning for voting against the bill was that €60 billion of the loan was to “strengthen Ukraine’s defence,” while €30 billion was for the general day-to-day expenditures of the Ukrainian government.
Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin voted in favour of the bill, as did fellow party members in the Socialists and Democrats Group, which marks a clear difference between the centre-left and Sinn Féin’s European grouping, The Left, on the issue.
The Sinn Féin MEPs joined an esoteric coalition of politicians in voting against it, with far-right politicians from Germany’s AFD party, extreme-right MEPs from Hungary, communist MEPs from Greece, and politicians from Italy’s syncretic 5-Star Movement voting against the loan.
Within Sinn Féin’s grouping, there was a minor split; left-wing MEPs from Sweden and Finland voted in favour of the loan to Ukraine,
Doherty noted that Sinn Féin’s stance on the issue brings the party’s historical Euroscepticism to the forefront.
“Sinn Féin love the optics. They turn up to protests and talk about solidarity. But when the vote actually matters, they turn their backs on Ukraine. That is hypocrisy,” Doherty remarked.
Doherty’s “hypocrisy” charges do not stand up to further scrutiny however; Fine Gael introduced financial support for refugees arriving from Ukraine in the last government, but cut said support amid political pressure from conservative voters and a none-too-subtle hardening of immigration rules since re-election in late 2024.
In November 2025, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael limited state accommodation for Ukrainian refugees to 30 days, and cut support for the Accommodation Recognition Payment from €800 a month to €600 a month.
Likewise, Fine Gael MEPs have voted alongside the far-right over the course of the current European Parliament, voting alongside far-right parties that have been vocal in their opposition to Ukraine.
Doherty claimed that Sinn Féin’s position “makes a mockery” of the party’s focus on energy bills, noting that the conflict has been a major driver in high energy bills.
“Russia’s war has driven up energy prices across Europe. You cannot vote against supporting Ukraine and then pretend to care about what families are paying every month. It simply does not add up,” she said, dubbing Sinn Féin as “clueless” on economics.
“Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion are elected to represent Ireland’s interests. Voting against critical support for Ukraine shows either a failure to grasp what is happening in Europe or a deliberate decision to ignore it. Neither is good enough.”
Doherty stated, “the war has not changed. Russia has not changed. Only Sinn Féin’s politics have. Ireland stands with Ukraine. Sinn Féin need to explain why they do not.”