I have been following back-and-forth accusations of “failure”, “dishonesty”, “blustering” and a “cynical political stunt” between Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil for the past week. So far, nothing new.

The latest spat between the parties, however, was over the fate of hill sheep farmers in the ANC review.

Sinn Féin moved a motion in support of the INHFA’s campaign to guarantee ANC money for hill farmers.

The motion failed for want of FF’s promised support. FF agriculture spokesperson Charlie McConalogue said this was the result of a trap laid by Sinn Féin to have the motion voted on without debate while senators were busy elsewhere with the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee.

SF senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn “laughed” at the suggestion.