Madam, – How is a constructive and reasonable opposition to germinate, when paint-slinging, Dáil-storming and gate-crashing are the only means to earn the public’s attention? Civil disobedience has recently earned the perpetrators inches and minutes in the national news, while considered rhetoric and peaceful demonstration is ignored by the media. Your article “Councillor who threw paint at Harney released”, includes just one sentence at the end noting the presence of a “peaceful picket” at the event. Where was the soundbite from the organiser of that protest? – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Considering the success Mary Harney has had wriggling out of responsibility for countless HSE debacles, it’s surprising the paint stuck! – Is mise,
Madam, – Monday’s incident with the Minister for Health concerning a councillor from an extreme republican party Éirígí, should not come as a surprise. Indeed, it should be no surprise at all given that the attacker and those of her ilk have for so long aimed for the destruction of democracy in this State.
Our Government may be unpopular and forced into a position of making difficult budgetary cuts in order to save Irish fiscal sovereignty. One would think such groups as that which the attacker represents would also wish to protect the sovereignty of this State, but of course they do not even recognise the Republic of Ireland.
Democracy has survived, uninterrupted for over 90 years despite the efforts of republicanism, and it is our duty to insure that the systems of democracy, law and order are upheld unabated. – Yours, etc,