Terry Prone: Every time 'populist' is used it creates a pointless distraction

Minister Eamon Ryan, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. 'All three own all problems because they’ve been in situ for so long. Sinn Féin own nothing and represent possible change.'

It’s a democratic paradox: manifestos are utterly pointless, yet you can’t have an election without them. Manifestos speak to the honesty and transparency of each political party, and no voter in their right mind wants to have to read one. A narrow majority of the electorate isn’t that sure what a manifesto is and even those who are clear on its purpose and function rarely hunger to consume a manifesto or two before breakfast.

Media people, in sharp contrast, love manifestos because they allow the asking of questions. Especially of parties that have been in Government for a while. Like “if this policy is so important, why have you not implemented it at any time over the past four years when you were in power and could have?”