It’s the Green’s fault

Thanks to the Green party there is now a constitutional challenge to the validity of the next election before Irish courts.

Meddling independents Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central) and Catherine Murphy (Kildare North) have launched a legal challenge to the upcoming election on the basis that 11 constituencies across the country have too few TDs. These “soldiers of democracy” sought legal advise on the matter for 6 long months and after all that time they are still unsure of the merits of their case or the likely outcome. In fact, it’s likely that nothing will happen before the election. However, McGrath is sure of one thing; the decision will be historic.

Populism at its worst ladies and gentlemen.

First, ask yourself why now? Why 6-8 weeks before the election? Might Finian and Catherine be trying to grab a few headlines, increase their profile and secure re-election in a months time? Is it not possible that Finian wanted some media exposure but the next EuroStar auditions aren’t for a few months?

Second, who cares if they are technically correct? They don’t even represent one of the affected constituencies. It’s none of their business. It is the business of the Department for the Environment and, guess what, they say everything is fine. Of course it’s also the business of the voters in those constituencies, and they are silent on the matter. Why? Because they’re happy with their representation as is. If they, the people, are happy then who are Finian and Catherine to argue with that? Not only is it extreme arrogance to speak on behalf of people you are not elected to represent, it’s a recipe for anarchy.

This whole thing is just an attempt to score easy points off the current Government and if Finian and Catherine have to stoop this low to score points off this Government well then they are hardly fit for office. We already know that Finian is against the war in Iraq and now we know he’s against disproportional representation in the Dail. How about telling us what you’re for Finian, and cut out all the negativity?

Finian and Catherine will no doubt get their headlines and the Government will no doubt, incorrectly, get the blame. The simple fact of the matter is that this whole issue is the fault of Captain Planet and his merry band of planteteers. Not a day goes by without some proclamation from the Green Party on the ineptitude of the current Government. Yet they simultaneously distract the Government by making a huge fuss over the fate of the planet. Without the interference of the Green Party, the Department for the Environment would be able to focus all of their limited bandwidth on the important things, like the number of TDs in each constituency.