by beano

on 12 Mar 2007 at 00:18. Categories: Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein, Politics

Anyone else catch the Politics Show on the BBC today?

Caitriona Ruane was asked if someone witnessed activity they thought to be part of a dissident republican operation, should they go to the police?

Her response? "Stop playing games."

Games? It doesn't sound like much of a game to anyone else. In fact to dismiss the legitimate concerns of the unionist population, and dare I say many non-Unionists, as "games" is surely reaching the height of arrogance. This is the second time in the space of 3 or 4 days she's danced around the question. All the other party representatives asked the same question on the election results show the other day were able to answer the question in one word - yes. How rare is it to get a straightforward answer from any politician, never mind 4!? As far as I know Gerry Adams has had no reservations on saying a witness should contact the police, and fair play to him for that. However some senior Sinn Fein members, including Ms Ruane, can't answer it at all though. Much as it pains me to admit it, maybe the DUP are right and they're not quite ready for government after all.

What's worse is that instead of admitting they're not comfortable with the question, they're turning on the interviewers and/or accusing everyone else of treating them (and their elecotrate) as second-class citizens. When Sinn Fein resort so easily to rhetoric like that is it any wonder unionists don't believe most of the accusations of discrimination?

Bookmark / Share | 5 comments » • Send a trackback »

Trackback address for this post

5 comments

Comment from: United Irelander [Visitor] · http://unitedirelander.blogspot.com

This is something that really irritates me about Sinn Féin. Their members' unwillingness to directly answer a question. I was watching Adams last week on RTE and he kept dodging questions on his party's economic policies for the Republic. It's not something that impresses me in the run-up to our election down here.

12 Mar 2007 @ 04:48

Comment from: Paul [Visitor]

First ever use of the C word in a N.Irish blog I reckon...are you joining the UK swearbloggers:
http://devilskitchen.me.uk/index.html

Whatever DUPer readers you may have had before will all now definitely have cleared of

Sinn Fein will never hold their hands up and say that a fair proportion of their organisation are cold-blooded murderers, so Ms Ruane is hardly going to criticise other Republicans with blood on their consciences.

12 Mar 2007 @ 15:45

Comment from: Chris [Visitor]

That was pretty pathetic, I agree. Contrary to what you say though, I have heard or seen Gerry Adams (on Spotlight), Gerry Kelly, Barry McElduff (on Radio Ulster) and Mitchel McLaughlin dodge the same question in the last couple of weeks. They need to get past this, and fast.

13 Mar 2007 @ 00:30

Comment from: JG [Visitor]

· http://juliusgeezer.blogspot.com

I agree with UI...

It was Brian Dobson who interviewed him and he didn't answer any of the questions. Pretty big questions at that, for example:

SF policy on corporation tax, let's hear some figures, Gerry.

Gerry was making all the right sounds (for me) about inequality etc. but didn't have a specific policy to promote. This close to an election in the South that is pretty poor.

14 Mar 2007 @ 20:28

Comment from: beano [Member]

· http://www.everythingulster.com

I think that's par for the course with Ulster politicians. Fudging as much as possible has served them well in the last decade here, it seems they haven't realised it doesn't work in real politics.

14 Mar 2007 @ 21:03

Comment feed for this post