The PDs have intensified their attack on Sinn Féin over its links to the IRA by highlighting the sale of paramilitary paraphernalia in Sinn Féin shops.
The Dún Laoghaire PD TD, Ms Fiona O'Malley, yesterday produced a T-shirt bearing the logo "IRA - Undefeated Army", a lapel pin bearing a "Sniper at Work" sign, and a wind-cheater and ski hat bearing a logo comprised of crossed rifles and the "Tiocfaidh ár Lá" slogan.
Ms O'Malley said such merchandise celebrated murder and violence and contributed to the funding of "each Sinn Féin candidate in these elections".
Ms O'Malley also produced the words from "Stuff Your Decommission", a song on a CD purchased in a Sinn Féin shop.
The song stated, among other things: "We Irish won't lie down and give away our guns to a foreign land, no Semtex not our guns will you ever get from us, 'cos the IRA will always be around."
Ms O'Malley said: "I dare Sinn Féin candidates to wear their own Sinn Féin clothes on television and out canvassing ... Instead, we are getting designer-look campaign posters."
Sinn Féin rejected Ms O'Malley's claims as a "stunt" designed to deflect attention away from the press conference to mark the start of its campaign against the citizenship referendum.
The party's European election candidate in Dublin, Ms Mary Lou McDonald, rejected the PD manoeuvre as a "cheap tactic" when asked whether she approved of the "sniper at work" sign.
"Look, what I don't approve of is the endless gimmickry that the PDs are indulging in. This is more of the same. This type of lark will not distract people from the record of the Government, it will not distract people from the issues on the ground."
Asked whether she would wear an "IRA Undefeated Army" T-shirt, Ms McDonald responded that she did not wear T-shirts at press conferences.
