Criticism of parliamentary democracy

In the weekly newsletter of the Dominican priory in Tralee, dated July 4, there is an editorial-type comment, which compares democracy in the Irish State with democracy in the Dominican Order. The piece is not signed.

It is curious article. It tells us that every priest and brother votes according to his own conscience and that each brother is bound to carefully weigh (sic) up all that is said and decide on what he believes is the best for the Community (sic).

How does the author know that the voter votes according to those criteria?

The article then goes on to criticise how Irish politicians are forced to take the party whip when it comes to parliamentary votes.

Is that not how parliamentary democracy works?

Reading the piece it shares a commonality with Vincent Twomey's article in last week's Irish Times.

There is a bias and dishonesty about it that is worrying.

The article also states that the people elect local and national leaders. Of course that is not the case as the taoiseach is elected by Dáil Éireann.