Sinn Feín on the defence

BACK TO that Seanad debate on the closure of Army barracks around the country. Sinn Féin tabled a lengthy amendment to the motion. Throughout it, the Army was called the “Irish Defence Forces”. It appeared eight times. In their contributions, the party’s senators had no problem referring to the “Army” or the “Defence Forces.” But not in the official amendment as set down on the Order Paper. One bemused senator said afterwards: “This is Seanad Éireann, not the House of Commons. What other army would we be talking about?”

Curious, right enough.