When political indiscipline becomes the new normal

The attempts by parties to exert too much control over their TDs do not work in a modern democracy and, if anything, often backfire

The suspension last week of Sinn Féin Senator Máire Devine for her distasteful retweet referring to Brian Stack as a “sadist prison officer” is just the latest incident of indiscipline within Irish political parties that has come to public attention.

Repeated allegations of bullying and misbehaviour have dogged political parties, particularly Sinn Féin and Fine Gael, in recent times. Is this a new, sinister development within Irish politics? Or, is this the nature ...