Once again, SF is put to the democratic test and found wanting

NO MATTER how much Sinn Féin tries to justify the attendance of the party’s leadership north and south at the Belfast funeral of Bobby Storey, it seems to forget we can see what happened there with our own eyes. Try as it might to deliberately muddy the waters, it was patently obvious that social distancing was not observed at a time when political leaders, above all others, have an obligation to demonstrate leadership on this issue.

Mary Lou McDonald took former taoiseach Leo Varadkar to task over his barechested picnic in Phoenix Park, but when her time for leadership on the issue came, she failed the test. A troubling question remains: what if she had been taoiseach? – as is no longer far fetched.

Meanwhile, the politest way to describe her apology, for the ‘hurt’ many felt, is mealymouthed, and not one she herself would accept from others. At the general election in February, Sinn Féin’s success boosted its mandate in this jurisdiction as well as in the North.

We are repeatedly told that Sinn Féin is now fully engaged with democracy, but with that comes the acceptance that democratic parties are held to account. Instead, when Sinn Féin is challenged, it resorts to deflection and allegations of victimisation. It demands that the Republic respects its vote, while the party itself refuses to respect the voters. It insists it is ready for government but then repeatedly demonstrates its complete lack of acceptable political judgement – unless of course, you’re part of the only constituency that actually matters, the IRA.

OUR THANKS GO TO DR TONY HOLOHAN

SINCE the start of the coronavirus crisis, this newspaper has held the Government and its scientific advisers to account. We always demanded that there was clear communication and transparent action taken at every stage. That said, we never doubted for a moment that Dr Tony Holohan’s only motivation was the common good at a terrifying time. We had occasion to clash swords with Nphet from time to time – that is the job of newspapers – but we do not deny that Dr Holohan showed calm leadership when it was needed, and that his nightly press conferences brought great comfort to many living in fear.

Time will tell if the decisions made were the correct ones, and for the most part they likely will be. What cannot be in question is the galvanising effect Dr Holohan had on the national psyche. As he departs his post temporarily, we thank him for his dedication and we wish him and his family well in their own private battle after his service in combating the most public one our country has ever faced.

PAROCHIALISM IN CABINET MUST END

ALL week, we have been told that it is unimportant that 10 counties have been left without representation at the Cabinet table. Politics is national, not local, the new Taoiseach and Tánaiste insisted. It is not the parish pump activity of old.

On Friday, new Education Minister Norma Foley announced on Twitter that she had approved an emergency grant for a school in Listowel, in her own Kerry constituency, which rather belies this notion.

There is no question the school needs the funds, but in approving the grant so quickly, and then making it so public, Ms Foley has shown she has a lot to learn, and the leadership might need to have a word with all its new ministers to ensure this does not happen again.