Clare’s Sinn Féin TD Stops Short Of Saying She Regrets Comments On HPV Vaccine

Clare’s Sinn Féin TD has stopped short of saying she regrets her comments on the HPV vaccine.

Violet Anne Wynne came under widespread criticism in recent weeks, after comments she had made in 2017 emerged, in which she questioned the vaccine.

She’s also addressed commentary surrounding money she owes in rental arrears.

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In a wide ranging interview on Clare FM’s Morning Focus, Violet Anne Wynne today addressed some of the controversies that have emerged in light of her General Election success.

There was widespread criticism of the Sinn Fein TD earlier this month, after comments she made on social media in 2017 surrounding the HPV vaccine emerged in media reports.

The Health Minister was among those who hit out against the comments, while Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said they’re undoing the good work of the late Laura Brennan, who campaigned for better uptake of the HPV Vaccine.

Violet Anne Wynne says she’s no longer against the vaccine, but she stopped short of admitting that she regretted the remarks.

The Kilrush resident has also hit back at media reports which centred around a €12,000 rental debt that she had accrued before entering politics.

At Ennis District Court, in July of 2017, Rural Resettlement Ireland was granted a decree for the repossession of a home at Tullycrine in Kilrush because of these rent arrears.

Today, Deputy Wynne explained that she was going through difficult family matters at the time, and that this was among the reasons why she had not met her €63-a-week rental payments.

She also re-iterated that she will donate €12,000 to mental health services in West Clare – as RRI is no longer in existance.

She says those donations will begin soon.

Meanwhile, as Government formation talks continue, Deputy Wynne says also defended her party in the wake of comments by the Garda Commissioner, saying she’s absolutely certain there is no IRA influence on Sinn Féin.

Drew Harris said the Garda agrees with a PSNI assessment, from 2015,that the Provisional IRA still existed, that it has links with Sinn Féin, but it was not on a war footing.

Violet Anne Wynne says the party is only influenced by its grassroots members.