The decision by Conor Murphy, arguably Sinn Féin’s strongest Stormont performer, to run for election in the Seanad is as surprising as it unusual.
It’s the equivalent of a high-scoring Premiership footballer taking a pay cut to play in the Championship.
The Seanad is an important component in the Republic’s legislature but historically its members, with the possible exception of gay rights campaigner David Norris, have lacked the profile of their counterparts in the Oireachtas’ lower house. It’s possible Mr Murphy, an articulate and confident communicator, may change that.
The 61-year-old former MP says it is entirely his own decision and has nothing to do with his health. He also insists that any new role will be a full-time commitment.
Meanwhile, some are already privately speculating that a bid for the Louth Dáil seat could be on the cards in the future.
There is no doubt that the forthcoming mandate in the Republic is key to the constitutional question.
Unity may not yet figure prominently in the thoughts of the southern electorate but it is steadily moving up the agenda of the main parties, including those who’ve been accused of paying it only lip service in the past.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have made manifesto commitments to advance the debate around unity and the forthcoming term will be a test of their sincerity in that regard.
The Newry and Armagh MLA, who is as experienced as any in his party undertaking a variety of roles, stresses that, if elected, planning for a border poll and unity will be central to his role in the Seanad. There’s an expectation, given his profile, that his election will be a formality.
A personable, persuasive negotiator, he is undoubtedly suited to the new role that lies ahead.
However, while Sinn Féin claims to have much up-coming talent on its Stormont benches, we’ve yet to see much evidence of that and it’s possible the party will struggle in the short-term to find a replacement of Conor Murphy’s abilities and stature.
