Irish Examiner view: Threats to politicians affect us all

Simon Harris said a conversation was needed among all political parties at this 'moment of inflection'

Tánaiste and Fine Gael party leader Simon Harris TD, second from left, with deputy leader Helen McEntee TD, left,  party parliamentary chairman Micheál Carrigy TD,  and enterprise minister Peter Burke TD at  a think-in at Mullingar Park Hotel, Co Westmeath. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA

The charge by Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris that the political system is not taking matters of security and threats against politicians “seriously enough” is very worrying.

Mr Harris admitted yesterday that he had to “dig deep” to show up at the Fine Gael think-in in Mullingar after it emerged that he and his young family had been subjected to what he described as a series of “sinister and subversive” threats in the past week.

Mr Harris also highlighted what he felt was a clear and sinister pattern emerging, adding that the motivation appeared to be to intimidate him and others out of public office.

“This isn’t normal,” Mr Harris said. “This can’t be normalised, nor can it be accepted. So what I said in my statement ... the usual way you deal with this is you’re meant to just kind of shut up, pretend you didn’t see the comment, say nothing, and hope it moves on. But I do see a clear pattern here that I think is deeply concerning and I think it’s deeply concerning beyond me as an individual.”

Mr Harris said a conversation was needed among all political parties at this “moment of inflection”.

“I want to talk to my Fine Gael colleagues, my Government colleagues. I’ll talk to my political opponents about how we address these issues, because I don’t think we take them seriously enough in this country.

“I’m not sure if these things happened in another European country that they’d just kind of be acknowledged, something that — ‘it’s terrible and it shouldn’t have happened to you’ — and then we just move on.”

That conversation cannot be limited to politicians and the political system. As a society, we too have to take time to reflect. As the Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said yesterday, the majority of Irish people show “civility, kindness and support” towards politicians, regardless of their beliefs.

While all politicians should be subjected to public scrutiny, we can’t let a tiny minority, no matter what their twisted motivations are, drive anyone out of office or turn people away from running for public office in the future.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald condemned the “utterly despicable” threats made against Mr Harris and his family, saying that targeting children in particular is “beyond unacceptable”. Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ms McDonald said she knows from her own experience how “unnerving” and “very worrying” such intimidation can be for public figures and their families.

“These types of threats are absolutely unacceptable, irrespective of who they are made against, and particularly to threaten small children is utterly, utterly despicable,” she said, adding that while the perpetrators must be held accountable, such behaviour should not be confused with the “civility, kindness and support” that she said the majority of Irish people show towards politicians.

Ms McDonald, who herself has previously faced death threats, said she “would not like anybody who is considering running for office to be put off by thinking that this is normal standard behavior”.

“I have to say that in my case, the gardaí were outstanding in their dealing with this and I want to commend them. I’m sure that’s the case now in this turn of events for Simon Harris.”

Whatever about the perceived failings of the political system, as reported elsewhere in today’s Irish Examiner, it’s very reassuring that gardaí are taking the threats against Mr Harris and his family — two on social media and a third involving hoax bomb phone calls — very seriously and are making progress in their investigations.

Time to pick a side of the fence

The European Commission has fired the starting gun on the process of ratification of the Mercosur agreement, the biggest trade deal the EU has yet negotiated. While the Government has yet to finalise it stance on the deal, it is going to have to decide which side of the fence it is sitting on.

While Ireland has thus far coalesced among those sceptical of the deal, alongside France, Italy, and Poland among others, it still remains to be persuaded that Mercosur is a good idea.

Irish farmers are lobbying against the agreement, which would see 99,000 tonnes of beef — 1.5% of European production — from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay be allowed to be sold in the EU annually. They are worried competition from South American meat would undercut demand for Irish beef, and their concerns are understandable.

The fact of the matter is that Europe is now operating in a completely different global trading landscape since US president Donald Trump initiated his tariff campaign. As a result the EU is looking for new, buoyant, trading partners.

Those in favour say the deal could open up big new markets for German cars, French, Italian, and Spanish wines, olive oils, and cheeses, as well as Irish whiskey, and the Government has recently made much of the needs to reduce the dependence of Irish exporters on the US market.

Those against say there are still too many unanswered questions. The battle lines have been drawn.

Putt to the test

The unrelenting tension, drama, and no end of old-fashioned luck saw last week’s Amgen Irish Open thrill crowds of largely young Irish fans and enthral a worldwide television audience as it produced a nerve-shredding final outcome.

With Rory McIlroy coming from four shots off the lead at the outset of the final day, even the native dampness at the K Club could not rain on the parade of the Hollywood star. His sudden-death play-off victory over Swede Joakim Lagergren was willed home by a roaring crowd.

This year’s Masters winner took his second Irish Open title in Kildare, having ridden his luck somewhat — twice his ball was saved from water hazards by the damp rough on the third and 15th holes. He also did a passable impression of Marvo the Magician when his ball did a 360-degree tour of the 13th hole before falling in for a birdie.

Then, when required to hole a 27ft eagle putt to force a play-off on the 18th, McIlroy sparked uproarious celebrations.

Although the wellbeing of the game was somewhat tempered by the shellacking delivered to the Great Britain and Ireland team at Cypress Point track in Pebble Beach, California, on Sunday, McIlroy’s tenacity shone a further light on Irish golf. His doughty performance will need to be matched when he tees up against the Americans but, as he showed yesterday, his determination will not be found wanting.

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