A Tangled Web

Cruising to Victory?



Conor Cruise O'Brien presents an interesting prognosis on the likely shape of the Irish Republic's next government. As Sinn Fein/IRA prepare themselves for a launch into the mainstream of Southern politics on the back of a blessing by the morally destitute, O'Brien envisages the next governing coalition in Dublin to be a partnership between Fine Gael and Labour.



There may be some wishful thinking to this. O'Brien has, after all, rekindled his interest in mainstream Irish politics by rejoining the Labour Party (Irish). Even so, I would prefer the governance of a hitherto democratic and reasonably stable state to be stewarded by two parties committed to the fundamental tenets of democracy and constitutional propriety, than I would to a partnership comprising of one party proficient in human eradication, and another party well-versed in corruption and spin.



I suspect it hasn't yet dawned on some in the Republic just how potentially damaging the prospect of governance by proto-fascists, backed-up by a illegal militia, could be - socially, economically, politically and constitutionally. Here's to hoping they are never unlucky enough to find out.