In the national interest

NO ONE wants to see the debates on the Presidency descend into a muck-raking contest, but a reasonably unblemished curriculum vitae is surely a must for such an important State job.

Apart from his elevation to deputy First Minister in the hastily constituted Northern Assembly, Martin McGuinness is no more qualified to assume the mantle of President of Ireland than Dana Rosemary Scallon.

His regular references to the “Free State” and the “Dublin Government” are an insult to the people in this jurisdiction. It is now time for presenters and others, including RTÉ, to speak out boldly and in the national interest and to “out” those amongst its ranks who remain sneaking admirers of the men of violence.