SF double standards over Galway golf row

THE Irish Government’s Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary and Seanad Leas-cathoirleach Jerry Buttimer resigned their positions over their unwise participation at an 80-strong Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Galway, which breached Irish Government guidelines on the Covid-19 crisis. They were right to do so.

Their resignations had been demanded by opposition parties and Irish media. This is understandable.

However, there is one party that has no right whatsoever to be part of the chorus of condemnation and this is Sinn Fein, who are once again guilty of cynical double standards; not only justifying the resignation of Dara Calleary and Jerry Buttimer, but also demanding the resignation of others who attended the event.

Sinn Fein’s attempt to take the high moral ground on the Galway dinner is in marked contrast to the position they adopted on the breach of Covid-19 guidelines that occurred at the funeral of IRA veteran Bobby Storey.

The chief offender on this occasion was Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’neill, who, like Dara Calleary, was also responsible for making decisions on Covid-19 regulations.

Why don’t Sinn Fein follow the example of Deputy Calleary and Senator Jerry Buttimer and seek the resignation of Michelle O’neill as Deputy First Minister?

If not, why don’t the media in both parts of Ireland ask them to justify their double standards?

JOHN CUSHNAHAN

(Former Fine Gael MEP and former leader of the Alliance Party) Lisnagry, Co Limerick