Sinn Féin’s pro-Europe stance is a total farce
PROVISIONAL Sinn Féin has opposed all of the European treaties since 1973. For its European candidates to claim that they are pro-European is farcical.
In 1972, campaigning against Ireland joining the EEC, Provisional Sinn Féin opposed Ireland’s accession on the grounds that ‘the objective of this treaty is a United States of Europe with a European army. Irish people will be compelled to fight wars the European powers decide to wage. Neutrality will go and compulsory military service for our youth will be introduced’.
Opposing the Single European Act in 1987, Sinn Féin said it would ‘surrender power completely to the Nato-dominated EEC’.
Opposing the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, Sinn Féin said it would represent ‘a death knell for Irish neutrality’.
In 1998, Sinn Féin opposed the Amsterdam Treaty by saying that it was ‘the most significant step towards a military common defence in Europe’.
Opposing the Nice Treaty in 2001, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said it would ‘bring us closer into a European army and into Nato’. In a campaign against the EU Reform Treaty, he claimed it would lead to a greater militarisation of the EU.
Every argument that Sinn Féin has put forward on this issue over the past 47 years has proved false and has been without foundation.
The reality is Irish troops cannot serve on peacekeeping missions abroad unless it is with the approval of Dáil Éireann, the Irish government and under a specific United Nations resolution.
Provisional Sinn Féin have spent nearly five decades trying to create hysteria about neutrality and are utter hypocrites as they voted against the constitutional ‘triple lock’ which legally prevents the Government joining the EU army or the EU forcing us into it!
STEPHEN KEARON,
Ballinaclash, Co. Wicklow.
Marriage is sacred
I AM concerned that much of the debate surrounding the upcoming Regulation of Divorce Referendum misses the point. The four-year requirement in our Constitution, before initiating divorce proceedings, is there to protect all of us.
It provides that valuable emotional distance, so necessary before facing the rigours of the legal system.
Anyone who enters and lives their marriage in good faith, needs this space to overcome the inner turmoil and devastation involved: the grief, shock, denial, disappointment, loss of self-confidence, before exploring paths to reconciliation, and dealing with longterm issues such as parenting, living arrangements and property.
This proposal is presented as being about those trapped in some legal lay-by. It’s not. If the Government were interested, it could easily act to make the family law process more streamlined, simpler, faster and cheaper. This would reduce the stress on all involved. The Government’s record on marriage is appalling. It has not only failed to publicise marriage peer-support and counselling services, but has actually withdrawn funding from them.
If passed, this proposal will have the effect of marginalising and demoralising anyone wanting to seek reconciliation. Our constitutional and legal framework sets the mood music for our relationships. Marriage demands of us a love which takes us out of ourselves and our comfort zone; even forgiveness. It also offers children the best start in life.
Let’s not diminish what is left of our public understanding of marriage. We could end up presenting marriage to the next generation as a fairy-tale, only worth flirting with briefly, in essence little more than cohabitation.
GEARÓID DUFFY,
Lee Road, Cork
Out of tune?
JUST wondering when I last heard that classic folk song A Woman’s Heart being sung by thousands at an international soccer or rugby match – or indeed in my local on a Saturday night?
Hmm... think I’ll vote for The Fields Of Athenry in RTÉ’s Ireland’s Favourite Folk Song competition. Oh, hang on, it’s not on the RTÉ list. Damn!
MIKE ROYCROFT,
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
Honour Victoria
I WOULD like to draw your attention to the fact that this year will mark the 170th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s visit to Ireland.
I’m surprised that not one commentator or journalist has picked up on that during Prince Charles’s visit to Ireland. His ancestor Queen Victoria received a rapturous welcome from the Irish people even though we were in the middle of a famine.
BARRY MAHADY,
Leixlip, Co. Kildare.
Murphy’s insulting plan
EOGHAN Murphy’s co-living solution to our housing crisis is an insult to the Irish people and he must understand his utterances will have consequences on Fine Gael with elections this week.
His ignorant and inexcusable announcement that people should be ‘very excited’ to live in shared apartments is a worrying insight into his view of the housing crisis.
Minister Murphy is not living in the real world and is out of touch with people on the ground. Rather than adequately addressing this huge crisis, this is the best our Minister can offer.
NOEL HARRINGTON,
Kinsale, Co. Cork.