Know their CVs before you vote

MUCH as I despise the crooked cronyism within Fianna Fáil and the pathetic attempts by Brian Cowen to stall, through ignorance, stupidity or intent, investigations into the criminal activities of a golden circle within Irish banking, it is sickening to hear Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghin Ó Caolain attempt to forensically question the Taoiseach on his connections with Sean FitzPatrick.

Ó Caolain represents a party that, for years, comprised mostly leaders for the men of violence. Men and women who made life a misery for thousands of decent, ordinary, people — both Catholic and Protestant.

Too many of us have allowed ourselves to drift into the current of postmodernist republican waffle when we should be demanding straight answers from Sinn Féin on its connections with wealthy republicans. There are many examples of republican insiders who have risen phoenix-like from the ashes of the Troubles and established “legitimate” businesses throughout this country.