Ireland has just become the first European Union state to elect a party with an armed wing. Sinn Féin, which won last week’s general election on first-preference votes (though it is second, by one seat, in parliamentary representation) has long been shunned by its rivals because of its links to terrorism and organized crime.

During the election, Leo Varadkar, the outgoing prime minister, ruled out a coalition with Sinn Féin because it took instructions from the Republican paramilitary hierarchy. “We have seen that in Northern Ireland, where key decisions are not necessarily made by the people.”