The man formerly known as Conor Murphy and now as Senator Conor Murphy lost no time in exercising his role in the Seanad as an injector of energy into the reunited Ireland debate. Micheál Martin, he noted recently, had blown a chance to further his ambitions for a united Ireland, when he failed to nominate as senator someone from a unionist background.
“It is a missed opportunity by the Taoiseach to send a positive message to the unionist and Protestant people that they are valued, wanted and welcome in a united Ireland.”
Micheál is not a man who turns the other cheek when charged with failure to do the right thing: “I think Sinn Féin are doing a lot of politicking around Northern Ireland, but there’s very little of substance in what they come forward with in respect of moving on and developing the agenda.”
What exactly did Micheál mean by this response? As Donald Trump responded to Joe Biden’s meltdown moment in that TV debate, he Trump didn’t know what Biden was talking about and “to be honest”, he didn’t think Biden knew what he was talking about himself.
“Politicking around Northern Ireland” – what else would a politician do when talking about a matter affecting the north-east corner of his country? And isn’t Micheál’s nominations of Senators to the Seanad obviously political – they are the upper house of the south’s parliament. For God’s sake, Micheál, don’t be saying things like that. It reminds me of an occasion on RTÉ’s Prime Time where Niall Collins ( no relative, I’m pleased to add) was attacking Gerry Adams for something he’d done or not done. “This has nothing to do with politics” Collins kept repeating. I was on a link from Belfast, which allowed me to tell Collins (NO, Virginia – not me, the other fellah) that he Collins was a politician, Gerry Adams was a politician, he was attacking Adams on a political TV programme about a political issue, yet this wasn’t political? “If it weren’t so serious it’d be risible” I said. The look Niall gave me would have soured milk.
So what am I saying? I’m saying if we’re asked to respond to a question or a charge, we should either zip the lip or, if we do talk, say something that isn’t an obvious contradiction in terms (Collins) or a totally daft response, to wit, accusing a politician of engaging in politics. That’s what Murphy’s paid to do, Micheál – engage in politics. And what you are paid even more to do- engage in politics. So please, please, I beg of you, Micheál, don’t be trying to tangle us all up in a big ball of verbal ear-wax.
Responding with total bluster and nonsense is acceptable in modern politics. Trump, Johnson and now Trump again. They (politicians) get away with it. It’s rarely challenged in the media, and worse, it’s very quickly forgotten about as we move on to the next example of the same behaviour.
Babblywash as a few call it in my neck of the woods.
Conor Murphy is a despicable POS who continues to cause distress to the family of Paul Quinn by refusing to apologise and retract his allegation that Paul was involved in crime. He continues to give cover to his Provo comrades. Unfit for public office of any sort.