Sinn Féin has criticised the Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald for canvassing with a Garda escort in Clondalkin area of the Dublin Mid-West constituency.

Sinn Féin says its leader Gerry Adams is one of the few party leaders who is out meeting real people every day during the election campaign.

The party denies that Mr Adams has been hidden away from the media, following what were described as poor interview performances last week.

Sinn Féin candidate in Dublin Mid-West Eoin O'Broin, says the Justice Minister should not feel like her personal safety is at risk in her own constituency.

Mr O'Broin said: "Actually, Gerry is one of the few leaders who is out and about everyday and out and about with real people. We had Frances Fitzgerald, the Minister for Justice, in my own constituency yesterday and she had a Garda escort going through communities in north Clondalkin.

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. @GerryAdamsSF with @cllr_mitchell canvassing in Dublin Bay North this morning. pic.twitter.com/fJe5QX0j1g

— Seán Mac Brádaigh (@SMacB) February 23, 2016

"Now, there is no threat to Frances Fitzgerald from the good people of north Clondalkin, they want to meet her and want to know why she is taking Gardaí off the street."