John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Where was the substantive engagement in his refusal to attend? Sinn Féin, in opposing the visit of the Queen, stated it would cause great offence to many Irish citizens. That was not the case. Where was the renewal of substantive engagement when the Queen visited?

If one digs a little deeper, one finds double-speak gushing from the motion. The text refers to "respect and equality for all citizens". The Sinn Féin press statement issued when the Queen visited stated the following: "The values she represents have no place in Ireland. Values of privilege, deference and inequality". These are not words of engagement. It is a common theme running through virtually everything Sinn Féin does that it will boycott anything that does not suit it.

Who cares if the party's policy in the North is the polar opposite of its policy in the South? Its priority is to ensure policies fit into the politics of opposition, rather than engagement or addressing reality.

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