There has been much political analysis on the fallout from
the Local and European elections in Ireland and the resignation of the Labour
Party leader Eamon Gilmore. Needless to say neither the media nor the political
parties seem to understand that it is not only economic issues that influence
voters decisions when they come to cast their votes.
The Government parties and Fine Gael, in particular, don’t
seem to understand that promises matter and that their high-handed approach to
the introduction of abortion legislation is anathema to a huge segment of the
electorate. There are very few issues that will bring 60,000 to the streets in
public protest but the message went unheeded. Public opinion was rejected in a most arrogant manner and the
TD’s who decided to vote with their consciences were treated shabbily.
Do they think we have short memories, that we have
forgotten?
The Government then promised in the wake of the introduction
of the anti life legislation that they would hold a referendum in 2015 on so
called ‘same sex marriage’ and in the meantime would introduce unacceptable
family legislation.
They would do well to look across the Irish Sea and consider
what has happened to the Government parties there in the wake of the same sex
marriage legislation. If they are wise they will quietly drop the proposals and
leave our Constitution alone.
In what was a huge slap in the face to the Catholic
population of Ireland Tanaiste and Labour leader Eamonn Gilmore arbitrarily
shut down the Irish Embassy to the Holy See, supposedly to save government
expenditure. Who did he think he was kidding?
In the lead up to the recent election the attempt to play
the Catholic card by inviting Pope Francis to come to Ireland and reopening the
Vatican Embassy was seen for what it was, a cynical attempt to win back those
who had been antognised by the earlier anti Catholic actions.
Did they really think they could treat the electorate in
this way and escape scot free?
There is no
doubt in my mind that the government parties
are responsible for their own demise, they have been ‘hoist with their own
petard’.
