It remains to be seen what Bertie Ahern will have to say to Sinn Fein when he meets them tomorrow, but by the sounds of his Defence Minister it’s unlikely to be a cosy fireside chat. Indeed, he believes that with all the speculation and Mitchel McLoughlin’s Q&A performance last week, it is Sinn Fein who must provide answers, rather than persisting asking the questions:
It is up to Sinn Fein to unambiguously demonstrate their bona fides. It is up to Sinn Fein to disavow the contemptible comments of McLaughlin, Arthur Morgan and others. It is up to Sinn Fein to say who is sovereign: the Irish people or the IRA Army Council.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty