The great dilemma facing those who reject the legitimacy of Sinn Fein as a political party is that party’s participation in government in Northern Ireland.
Leader of Fianna Fail Michael Martin was asked about this on Morning Ireland.
How can you find it acceptable that Sinn Fein should sit in government in Northern Ireland but are not fit for purpose in the South?
There’s a fundamental difference between the constitution of the republic and the political entity of Northern Ireland, we know that from our history. In persuading the provisional IRA movement to give up violence a form of government had to be established that involved cross community input.
So…..the Northern Ireland ‘government’ is not really a government, it’s more an agreed mechanism to promote cross community input.
But the Northern government is a legitimate government is it not?
There’s a fundamental difference between the political entity and I think you would have to accept between the constitutions that establishes our government and that in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland government is based on a constitution? I didn’t know that.
I wonder how the people who voted for their representatives in Northern Ireland and those who operate that democratic mandate on their behalf feel about this hypocritical, cowardly, self-serving waffle?