Editing Marc MacSharry (section)

===Dáil Éireann (2016–2024)===
In the [[2016 Irish general election|2016 general election]], MacSharry was elected on his second attempt, topping the poll in the newly reformed [[Sligo–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)|Sligo–Leitrim]] constituency with 8,856 votes (14.2%), to take a seat in the constituency his father Ray had served in.

In 2018, the Dáil was suspended for ten minutes because of an allegedly anti-semitic remark made by MacSharry. While discussing the reduction of hours in a Garda station in Donegal town, MacSharry alleged that the government was like Nazi propaganda minister [[Joseph Goebbels]], and shouted "Goebbels" at the government's benches. [[Minister for Justice (Ireland)|Minister for Justice]] [[Charles Flanagan]] and [[Minister for Health (Ireland)|Minister for Health]] Simon Harris called on MacSharry to withdraw the remark, with Harris calling the comment "anti-semitic" and "an attack on the Jewish Community", but MacSharry's Fianna Fáil colleague, [[Ceann Comhairle]] [[Sean O Fearghail]], did not call on MacSharry to withdraw the remark.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Halloran |first1=Marie |title=Dáil suspended following row over 'anti-Semitic' Nazi remark |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/d%C3%A1il-suspended-following-row-over-anti-semitic-nazi-remark-1.3409351 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=22 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922211754/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/d%C3%A1il-suspended-following-row-over-anti-semitic-nazi-remark-1.3409351 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, MacSharry was re-elected in the same constituency, albeit with a reduced share of 7,004 votes (11.5%), being elected on the final count over his Fianna Fáil running mate [[Eamon Scanlon]].

MacSharry caused controversy in 2020 when he accused public servants of "laziness" and said they were "using the [[COVID-19]] crisis as an excuse to "lie on the couch and watch box sets". The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants called on MacSharry to withdraw the remark, calling it "ill-informed and ill-considered" and requesting an apology from MacSharry, but MacSharry refused to, saying "Of course, such comments aren't popular, but it needs to be said."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Finn |first1=Christina |title='It's not popular, but needs to be said': MacSharry defends saying some civil servants using lockdown to watch box sets |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/marc-macsharry-civil-servants-5163659-Jul2020/ |website=The Journal |date=30 July 2020 |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111195406/https://www.thejournal.ie/marc-macsharry-civil-servants-5163659-Jul2020/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bray |first1=Jennifer |last2=Bowers |first2=Shauna |last3=Hutton |first3=Brian |title='Huge anger' as public servants and Fianna Fáil react to Marc MacSharry 'box sets' remark |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/huge-anger-as-public-servants-and-fianna-f%C3%A1il-react-to-marc-macsharry-box-sets-remark-1.4317741 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024184359/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/huge-anger-as-public-servants-and-fianna-f%C3%A1il-react-to-marc-macsharry-box-sets-remark-1.4317741 |url-status=live }}</ref>

MacSharry criticised [[Fáilte Ireland]] and his Fianna Fáil colleague at the time [[Stephen Donnelly]] on the public health guidelines they had issued regarding the opening of pubs and restaurants across Ireland, comparing them to the East German intelligence agency the [[Stasi]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=McConnell |first1=Daniel |last2=Loughlin |first2=Elaine |last3=Glennon |first3=Nicole |title=Donnelly under fire from publicans and backbenchers over 'crazy' new food recording rules |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40043114.html |website=The Irish Examiner |date=4 September 2020 |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=27 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427135611/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40043114.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wall |first1=Eva |title=Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry urges Government to alter new 'Stasi-like' guidelines for pubs |url=https://extra.ie/2020/09/03/news/irish-news/fianna-fail-td-stasi-guidelines |website=Extra.ie |date=3 September 2020 |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111141851/https://extra.ie/2020/09/03/news/irish-news/fianna-fail-td-sta18si-guidelines |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2021, MacSharry attracted further controversy for his comments made during a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting, in which he said that "if the [[Ku Klux Klan]] were selling a [[COVID-19 vaccine]], Ireland should buy it".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Molony |first1=Senan |title=Fianna Fáil TD apologises for saying Ireland should buy Covid vaccine from the Ku Klux Klan if necessary |url=https://www.independent.ie/news/fianna-fail-td-apologises-for-saying-ireland-should-buy-covid-vaccine-from-the-ku-klux-klan-if-necessary-40020772.html |website=The Irish Independent |date=27 January 2021 |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=17 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217234742/https://www.independent.ie/news/fianna-fail-td-apologises-for-saying-ireland-should-buy-covid-vaccine-from-the-ku-klux-klan-if-necessary-40020772.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=TD apologises for saying Ireland should buy vaccines from Ku Klux Klan |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/td-apologises-for-saying-ireland-should-purchase-vaccines-from-ku-klux-klan-1071714.html |website=Breakingnews.ie |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205015947/https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/td-apologises-for-saying-ireland-should-purchase-vaccines-from-ku-klux-klan-1071714.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During his time in Fianna Fáil, MacSharry was very critical of Micheál Martin, calling on him to resign as leader of Fianna Fáil multiple times. He first called on Martin to resign in June 2021 after it had emerged Fianna Fáil had used covertly polled voters while pretending to be independent pollsters.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fianna Fáil TD calls for Micheál Martin to resign over fake polling controversy|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fianna-fail-td-calls-for-micheal-martin-to-resign-over-fake-polling-controversy-40521871.html|access-date=1 August 2021|website=independent|language=en|archive-date=1 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801194727/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fianna-fail-td-calls-for-micheal-martin-to-resign-over-fake-polling-controversy-40521871.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2021, MacSharry again called on Martin to resign after Fianna Fáil's poor performance in the [[2021 Dublin Bay South by-election]], in which Fianna Fáil's candidate Deidre Conroy received under 5 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Murphy|first=Eoghan|title=MacSharry says Martin should step down as Fianna Fáil leader this summer|url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/macsharry-says-martin-should-step-down-as-ff-leader-this-summer-1223833|access-date=1 August 2021|website=Newstalk|language=en|archive-date=1 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801194728/https://www.newstalk.com/news/macsharry-says-martin-should-step-down-as-ff-leader-this-summer-1223833|url-status=live}}</ref> It was revealed that month that MacSharry was seeking out TDs in his party to put forward a motion of no confidence in Martin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Marc MacSharry actively seeking rebel TDs in bid to drive out Micheál Martin|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/marc-macsharry-actively-seeking-rebel-tds-in-bid-to-drive-outmicheal-martin-40647164.html|access-date=1 August 2021|website=independent|date=13 July 2021 |language=en|archive-date=1 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801194727/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/marc-macsharry-actively-seeking-rebel-tds-in-bid-to-drive-outmicheal-martin-40647164.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

MacSharry published a paper, ''Now More Than Ever'' in July 2021 on the impact of COVID-19 related restrictions on the mental health of society suggesting no further lockdowns should be considered.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/td-marc-macsharry-issues-research-paper-calling-for-no-further-lockdowns-to-protect-publics-mental-health-40650511.html|title=Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry issues research paper calling for no further lockdowns to protect public's mental health|website=independent|date=13 July 2021 }}</ref>

On 15 September 2021, MacSharry resigned from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in order to vote against [[Simon Coveney]] of Fine Gael in a motion of no confidence resulting from the [[Katherine Zappone controversy]].<ref name="MacSharry resigns from FF"/>

On 2 November 2022, MacSharry was prevented from rejoining Fianna Fáil following a row over the handling of a bullying complaint against him.<ref name=RTE_20221102>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2022/1102/1332697-marc-macsharry/|title=Marc MacSharry resigns from Fianna Fáil|work=[[RTÉ News]]|date=2 November 2022|access-date=2 November 2022}}</ref>

On 18 October 2023, MacSharry announced that he would not contest the [[2024 Irish general election|next general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leahy |first=Pat |title=Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry to retire from politics at next election |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/10/18/fianna-fail-td-marc-macsharry-to-retire-from-politics-at-next-election/ |access-date=18 October 2023|newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>