FF has failed the patriot test

AM I alone in questioning Fianna Fáil’s interpretation of patriotism?

Is it patriotic for Government ministers to earn an annual income of up to and over €250,000 when the average industrial wage is €38,000?

Is it patriotic that the car park of Leinster House is currently filled with new Mercedes, BMWs, Volvos and Audis? Is it patriotic that Government ministers preside over departments and State bodies that travel by first or business class when the rest of us fly budget?

Is it patriotic to let Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim languish a moment longer from the economic and social effects of partition?

Is it patriotic for a Government to refuse to show any humility whatsoever in the face of an economic recession that is mostly of its own making.

Is it patriotic to put a popular vote on a European treaty to an electorate and then completely ignore their view when the result means having a difficult conversation with your European partners?

Is it patriotic to withdraw support and services to the most disadvantaged and increase taxes on working families least able to afford them? Surely not.

Patriotism for me means having an empathy with my fellow-citizens and wanting the very best for them as well as myself. It means justice. It means fairness. It means picking people up when they are down.

It means delivering economic and social policies that simply make sense.

It means getting a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. It means developing enterprise and employment so that all our people can work.

It means having a vision and a plan for a better tomorrow while doing the best you can today.

Sinéad Máire Ní Bhroin

De Vesci Court

Monkstown

Co Dublin