Tom McGurk & Sinn Fein
17th December 2013
The Editor,
Letters Page,
The Sunday Business Post
Dear Editor,
The problem with Tom McGurk, from my perspective, is that he sees everything, in this State, from a Northern perspective. He would possibly say that, one of the problems with me, is that I see things from a 26 County perspective.
The notion that we, in this Republic of Ireland, should have less regard than others for the integrity and legitimacy of our State is a view I do not share. Quite simply I am browned off at the notion that this State is somehow incomplete or lacks sufficient Statehood. For me, Emmet’s epitaph can indeed be written and this Republic of Ireland can take her place among the nations of the earth. If, someday, others on this island, by majority vote wish to join us, I will be among the first to welcome that. In the meantime – the Republic of Ireland has my loyalty.
The trouble however is that those who yearn for such a larger State seem to think that I and those like me should adopt different standards and different democratic principles because of events in Northern Ireland. In my view it is perfectly reasonable not to support Political Parties whose allies engage in murder, kidnapping, beatings, bank robberies and so forth. Mr McGurk seems to think I should ignore such behaviour and move on. I don’t. The proudly decent and democratic SDLP never yielded to such behaviour and look what appeasement has done to them. Never has three words “the Peace Process” been used to excuse so much.
However my opposition to Sinn Fein also lies in what they actually do and propose here in this State. Claiming to be left wing they oppose property taxes, while ironically imposing them in Northern Ireland. Claiming to be engaged in the democratic process they occupy the Chair of Dublin City Council Finance Committee, yet consistently refuse to put forward and vote for a coherent Budget. Claiming to be Internationalist they adopt a “little Englander” approach to our most important international partnership – the European Union. Claiming to represent a new future they embrace a consistent champion and TD of the Ahern/Cowen Governments as one of their new candidates.
Of course there are individual Sinn Fein members who make a valid contribution – however the record of the Party and the policies of the Party are why I oppose them. Clinging to an outdated form of Nationalism may be Mr McGurk’s political agenda. It is not mine.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Dermot Lacey
