Political Parties in Ireland

I often feel that politics in Ireland today is still tied too much to the past, and to the fight for independence and the set up of the state.

This has been highlighted again for me with what happened this week: Gerry Adams' arrest as part of the investigation into Jean McConville's murder and disappearance, and the reaction of his Sinn Fein party colleagues. 


Sinn Fein is always going to be linked to the nationalist cause, and it's recent attempts in the Republic at least to reinvent itself as a left-wing party smack to me of too much populism.  Too many parties don't seem to have a definitive stance on what they want society to be like, and just adopt policies which are likely to get them elected.  If Sinn Fein were really a left-wing party, they would support the water charges and the property tax instead of campaigning against them.  These are progressive taxes which will hit high value and bigger property owners more than the average householder.  Those who don't own property will not be affected by these.  Instead Sinn Fein has the repeal of both these as one of their main campaign points. 
The comments made by Sinn Fein members this week that the arrest of Gerry Adams was politically motivated smack to me of hypocrisy and point marking.  If anyone who had thought of changing their vote to Sinn Fein was revising their decision after the arrest, this debate would have made up their mind.  A response such as - we fully support the PSNI in their investigation, we trust that they are not attempting to get involved in politics and we know that they will shortly release our party leader, who is innocent - would have raised the party in my estimation in oh so many ways.  Unfortunately they had to pander to their nationalist base, and return to separatist pre-peace process rhetoric.