Sir, – In a recent interview Phil Hogan warned: “The absence of an impeachment process within the Irish Constitution means that we could be heading for an unprecedented stand-off – where both Houses of the Oireachtas would vote ‘no confidence’ in Mr McGuinness but he would refuse to resign”. This statement shows a lamentable ignorance of Article 12.10 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, which specifically provides for such an impeachment process in the case of stated misbehaviour. If Article 12.10 is complied with and two-thirds of the investigating House of the Oireachtas pass a resolution that the misbehaviour has been proven, and that it renders the president “unfit to continue in office, such resolution shall operate to remove the President from his office”.
Whether Mr McGuinness is a worthy candidate for the office is something for the people to decide, but the attempt to muddy the waters with constitutional clay is unnecessary. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – If people have been inclined not to vote for Martin McGuinness because of his strong Republican background, I believe many of them now will, in response to the self-righteous, hypocritical and unfair attacks made on him.
Most of the attacks are allegedly being made in the name of non-violence. But non-violence is only short for non-violent resistance.
How have Mr McGuinness’s critics resisted British injustice and anti-Catholic discrimination and inequality in Northern Ireland? How many years did they spend in prison for non-violently resisting injustice? How often were they beaten off the streets in the North? How long were their lives lived in fear and danger because of their nonviolent resistance? Did they suffer and thirst for justice? Only those who risked their lives and fortunes for nonviolent resistance are in a position to lecture Republicans on nonviolence.
The regular people of Ireland will know full well that many of Mr McGuinness’s critics simply do not want a Northern Republican in the Áras – just as many of President Obama’s critics do not want a black man in the White House – irrespective of denials to the contrary. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I welcome the concerns expressed by Fine Gael that electing Martin McGuinness as president would be likely to cause a constitutional crisis that would dissipate energies “in a series of futile wars centred on using the presidency to advance the objectives of a political party rather than the country itself.” Sinn Féin is a party with a determined political goal which should not be given a mandate to further its political objectives in what is under the Constitution a ceremonial and non-partisan office. It is hard not to see the possibility for serious political conflict between a McGuinness presidency on the one hand and the Irish Government and parliament on the other.
Phil Hogan also mentioned in his speech that as far as Mr McGuinness is concerned “anything from his past could blow up.” Already we have the somewhat belated admission from him that where “innocent people lost their lives” the term “murder” could be used. By implication this means that all other deaths caused by the IRA which were planned (for example, at Enniskillen) were acceptable or justifiable. This sort of moral ambivalence is unacceptable in a candidate for the highest office in the land, despite undeniable efforts made to move towards a more peaceful way of pursuing political aims and objectives.
It is entirely reasonable that such fundamental misgivings are aired in a democratic election. That is the nature of the democratic process. The fact that such reasoned arguments are dismissed as “black propaganda” illustrates the fact that Sinn Féin is not used to and resents such criticism. The use of the term “black propaganda” is of course significant and revealing in that it is a military term. It is commonly understood to describe an enemy’s actions using material purporting to emanate from a source other than the true one. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Phil Hogan is worried that president Martin McGuinness might invite Slab Murphy for tea in the Áras. As opposed to Jackie McDonald? – Is mise,
Sir, – Martin McGuinness has stated that he has no objection to priests divulging information, received in the confessional, relating to child abuse to the police. Could someone please ask him if he has any objection to priests divulging information, received in the confessional, relating to murder, bombing and other acts of terrorism? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Michael D Higgins is a noted orator and poet. But the pose he assumes in his election poster with his hands held out has comic overtones. Echoes of Max Bygraves and his signature “I wanna tell you a story” line. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Will Senator Norris “publish and be damned”? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Could Mary Davis be suffering from reverse Dorian Gray syndrome – as she grows older her picture remains unchanged? – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Dana (Rosemary Scallon) and her interviewer Stephen J Costello were both quoted as referring to Dana (International) as “he” in Miriam Lord’s Week (October 1st), when, in fact, Dana (International) is, like Dana (Rosemary Scallon), legally female, and identifies as female, despite, unlike Dana (Rosemary Scallon), being born biologically male.
Usually, when someone being quoted misspeaks or makes a factual error, the mistake in the quote is followed by “(sic)”, but this was missing here. In case there’s any confusion, both Danas are correctly referred to as “she”. Transpeople struggle to be fully accepted as the gender they identify as. Is this some kind of (sic) joke? – Is mise,
Sir, – As a result of the new “Christian Democratic” campaigning by Fine Gael, Gay Mitchell will now get my number 7 on the ballot paper. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Pace John Waters (Opinion, September 30th), whatever about Douglas Hyde, Éamon de Valera was anything but straight. My father used to say that the reason that nobody had named a street in Ireland after de Valera was it had proved impossible to find one that was long enough or crooked enough. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The cost of the presidential election campaign has been estimated as at least €20 million (Carl O’Brien, Home News, October 1st). The Tallaght Hospital deficit, which has caused ward closures, severe overcrowding with patients on trolleys and dangerous conditions in breach of health and safety regulations, was recently stated as being €9.4 million (Fintan O’Toole, August 30th).
Could I suggest to the candidates that the best thing they could do to improve their standing and that of the office of president would be to reduce proportionately their election spending and/or their remuneration if elected (ie by 50 per cent) and donate the amount saved to this hospital or any of the other hospitals that face similar problems. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The “great debate” on the Late Late Show was very disappointing . . .no fireworks, no passion, no excitement. The candidates seem to be jaded already. It was like a bad game of football with nobody taking risks, each one just making sure he/she did not lose face. Indeed, Ryan Tubridy behaved like an indecisive and uninvolved referee. His questions were predictable and lacked any sense of authenticity. I actually fell asleep! The race for the nominations was much more heart-stopping. The only exciting and energetic moment in the Late Late Show was when Jedward pranced around the set and indeed even suggested at one stage that they might go for the “Big Job”. - Yours, etc,