Dan Hannan quits the Tory front bench over referendum.

[Christine Murray]

l do wonder at us as democrats not being able to get our heads round the idea of opposition parties providing viable political opposition and debate on issues of public importance. Here l would blame Kenny's bipartisanship and cooperation with FF. He did not even discuss Lisbon with Cameron : http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...ut-lisbon.html

[Sync]

It's a huge drawback in Irish politics that the 2 main parties have no idealogical differences at all.

[Christine Murray]

@Sync indeed, would that level of cooperation happen anywhere else in Europe ? no wonder people are politically alienated. Hague's comments at the time of the Cameron/Kenny meeting : ConservativeHome's Parliament Page: William Hague responds to David Miliband's statement on the Lisbon Treaty

[Sync]

I'm pro-Lisbon, but it's impossible to disagree with anything Hague (Who's always a terrific writer) said there.

[Christine Murray]

both Hague and Hannan make good points on the issues, the nub of the matter being representation in an era of globalised expansion and quality of life issues. l do not think these issues were aired here given the paucity of actual political engagement by the main parties. (and intellectual ability btw )