No room for undermining the sovereignty of the Republic

FOLLOWING the forced withdrawal of Senator David Norris from seeking the endorsement of the required number of TDs or local authorities in his endeavour to enter the Presidential election contest, perhaps all the other prospective candidates, in the interests of fairness and balance, should be subject to the same level of scrutiny also.

I was concerned at comments made by the FG-nominated candidate Gay Mitchell on August 20, 2006 at the annual Michael Collins/Arthur Griffith commemoration in Glasnevin cemetery, when he suggested that the Irish Government should consider a role for the British monarch in a new all-Ireland state, perhaps even a role as joint head of state to accommodate those Irish who also see themselves as British and have a strong attachment to the crown?

I find it both bizarre and repugnant that an Irish Presidential candidate would put forward a suggestion that the British monarch, who is also Commander-in-Chief of British armed forces, be considered as a joint Irish head of state.