McGrath says not everyone in House backed monarchy

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has rejected criticism by an Independent TD of Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the Republic.

He said that rather than just “talking about peace” the Queen had demonstrated that she was “prepared to come here and respect and understand the different traditions on this island by laying wreaths both at the Garden of Remembrance and the memorial in Islandbridge”.

He added that President Mary McAleese “and Her Majesty sent out a statement of co-operation and mutual respect and understanding that is global in its impact and consequence”.

The Taoiseach was responding in the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions to Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central), who called for a debate on the visit, saying it was “people on the ground who supported the peace process from its start with the Hume-Adams talks, and that it was the political elite and some media commentators who initially attacked” the initiative.

He said there were “elected members of this House and many more elected representatives in Scotland, England and Wales who do not support monarchies or outdated institutions with inherited powers”, which he claimed were “relics of feudal times”.

Mr Kenny responded by saying the peace process “jigsaw” has “not been confined to any group or individual”.

Mr McGrath referred to a British citizen Joan Humphreys who “lost her grandson in Afghanistan” and a former British soldier Ben Griffin who had served in Iraq.

He said they were in Dublin “to oppose the arms industry and the fact that the British government has recently sealed a deal with Saudi Arabia”.

Mr McGrath also asked whether the Taoiseach or anybody at the memorial service in Islandbridge thought of the families in Greysteel and Loughinisland “when those five UDA brigadiers” attended.

Mr Kenny said “of course we think about them, which is why it is necessary not just to have words but also the symbolism and power of what it means for countries to join together to build continued peace in our world”.