Opinion: Drift from democracy is a long time coming

The Government created a democratic vacuum and can hardly ascend to the heights of righteous indignation when others take advantage, writes Michael Clifford

THINGS here are dark, to put it brightly, with apologies to Mr Beckett. In the last week basic standards of democracy have plummeted. The leader of Sinn Féin has stated that he has no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle. The deputy leader of Sinn Féin has staged a sit-in in the lower house of parliament, claiming that she is being treated unfairly. The actions of both Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald appear, on the face of it, to be laced with cynicism.

But would they have got away with it at any other time? Are their actions occurring in a vacuum where the Government has abdicated any moral authority, not necessarily by its policies, but through its conduct? Beyond the citadel of parliamentary politics, things have turned ugly. Last Saturday, Joan Burton was prevented from going about her business in west Tallaght. She was assaulted with a water balloon, effectively held hostage for more than two hours and intimidated as she sat in her car. She was verbally abused in a sexist manner.