People Before Profit have announced that the party will boycott a special sitting with US President Joe Biden on Thursday.
Richard Boyd Barrett told The Irish Mirror that the party did not agree with the decision not to allow any of the Irish Government members to speak following President Biden’s speech.
As with other US Presidents' addresses, the Ceann Comhairle will introduce the guest, Mr Biden, who will speak and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad will wrap things up.
READ MORE: LIVE updates as US President Joe Biden arrives in Ireland for four-day visit
"We don’t think that [President Biden] should be insulated from criticism or questioning," Mr Boyd Barrett said.
"Far from being a peacemaker, he has a pretty terrible record of supporting all the worst, most militarist stances in US foreign policy over many years.
"Joe Biden needs to be forcefully challenged over his long-standing and unconditional support for the apartheid regime in Israel and its brutal and criminal treatment of Palestinians; his pivotal role in promoting the US invasion and occupation of Iraq; his active promotion of NATO expansion and the on-going and blatant double standards of US foreign policy globally.
"The Dáil is a political debating changer. Why should Joe Biden get different treatment to other guests who have been invited to speak who have been subject to questioning or criticism?
"The Dáil is being used as a soapbox."
People Before Profit previously came in for criticism following their decision not to applaud Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following his address to the Dáil in April 2022.
The party will also take part in a protest against Mr Biden's visit in Dublin City Centre on Wednesday evening.
Speaking ahead of the People Before Profit decision to boycott the President Biden speech, Fine Gael Minister of State Neale Richmond accused the party of taking part in "student union politics".
He told The Irish Mirror: "Thursday is an absolutely massive day for our country. America is a great ally and partner and if it wasn’t for the US – including Joe Biden as a Senator – we wouldn’t have had a Good Friday Agreement.
"The sort of comments being made are off base. It is student union politics at best. We saw what happened before when the President of Ukraine addressed the Dáil, when [European Commission President] Ursuala von der Leyen came, it is all about stunts.
"A grown-up approach [is needed]. You can disagree with US policy, but let’s recognise this is only the eighth time a US President has come to our country. We have a standing invitation to visit the White House every year for St Patrick’s Day and we’re extremely lucky to have this relationship with not just the US, but with this US President who is the most Irish-American President since JFK.
"I have no problem with democratic engagement, but we have to show civility and respect."
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