Welcome for a dictator but not for a democrat

ELECTION fever is in the air, so our publicity-seeking independent TDs went into overdrive this week.

In the Dáil, many of them boycotted the address of Australian prime minister John Howard. They dubbed him as “lying, thieving, pro-war and anti-union” — and a “warmonger”.

One of these independents, Finian McGrath, obviously has a very short memory. Last month on his return from a visit to Cuba, he called on the Government to invite Cuban President Fidel Castro to Ireland on a state visit — which presumably would have included an invitation to address the Oireachtas.