People seem puzzled that Michael Martin should abandon principle, precedent and the smooth progress of government to shove through this ludicrous deal with Lowry. Students of history know, however, that abandoning principles for power comes naturally to Fianna Fáil – going back to the oath of allegiance in the 1920s. That Lowry and his rag-tag cohort enabled FF to cement power meant that no request was too ludicrous to consider. The result of this farrago is to place this tainted sleeveen, this blot on the escutcheon of Tipperary front and centre in our proud new government. Its entire term of office will be tainted by this completely unnecessary stroke. If FG had any sense, it would pull the plug on the whole sorry saga.
