Popcorn Politics

Not your most Enterprising move, Captain!!

2011-06-23T04:01:00.000-07:00

What was Justice Minister Alan Shatter thinking when he decided to mouth off about one of RTE’s finest journalists Paul Reynolds?

Let’s get things straight, to accuse an RTE journalist of ‘constantly engaging in tabloid sensationalism’ is actually a compliment.

Writing in a tabloid style is a craft that many have tried and few have mastered. But we’ll leave the mechanics of journalism aside for a
while.

But to question a journalist’s accuracy is, to quote a former Taoiseach, ‘beyond the Pale’.

Shatter later apologised for his remarks that he made at a meeting of Templemore Town Council last week - and rightly so. He called the journalist’s integrity into question and he had no option but to issue a grovelling apology.

But it seems that Shatter seems to like the tabloid form of journalism.

Just look what he put in the letterboxes of the people of Dublin South in 2007 when he was hoping to regain the seat he had lost in 2002!

His newsletter was like a cheap British gossip magazine, complete with strap lines ‘Real Life Free’ and ‘The Only Read You Need’.

The cover featured a posed photo of Shatter - looking all relaxed in his jeans and denim shirt with his jacket casually thrown over his shoulder.

But what beats Banagher is his attempt at dress-up - comparing himself to actor William Shatner and his Star Trek Captain Kirk character.

What is quite obviously a photoshopped picture, Shatter superimposed his head on Shatner’s body to make him look like Captain Kirk.

“Only one of these men needs your number one vote” - the strapline reads.

Not only is Shatter a talented lawyer and a senior Minister, it seems he is a dab hand at a bit of ‘tabloid sensationalism’ himself.

So Alan, if you tire of politics - we are standing by waiting for your CV. Your portfolio is impressive!!

And Paul, you are welcome to The Star’s mothership anytime!!

Pair Spiel-y Similar!!

2011-06-23T03:58:00.000-07:00

Speaking of politicians and folk like them looking like famous people,
our pals over at politics.ie are continuing their long-running
campaign to find ‘politicians that look like stuff’.

This week they have come up with a classic.

Was Oscar-winning movie director Steven Speilberg separated at birth
from Central Bank Governor Professor Patrick Honohan?

Doyle to Av a Go

2011-06-23T03:56:00.000-07:00

WANTED - A retired politician who DOESN’T want to run for President!

It seems that every former politician who graced the Leinster House
corridors of power now seems to think they are presidential material.

The latest person to throw their name in the hat is the formidable
former Fine Gael TD Avril Doyle from Wexford.

Avril is not a woman to be messed with - there were reports of a
bitter feud between herself and party colleague Mairead McGuinness
during the European Elections in 2004.

The Fine Gael selection convention early next month is fast turning
into a pay-per-view, front row viewing event.

One wonders, however, who else will crawl out of the Fine Gael
archives to challenge for the presidential nod?

Brian Lenihan RIP

2011-06-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

“It’s part of the Lenihan DNA” - that is what I was always told when I questioned why Brian Lenihan contested the last general election despite his cancer diagnosis.

It was a mark of the man that despite the massive uphill struggle he was going through with his cancer battle that he insisted that life continue as normal.

And politics was in his blood.

Any other person, when dealt a devastating diagnosis like Lenihan was, would have retired to enjoy what they had left of their lives.

But not Brian Lenihan - because ‘it was part of the Lenihan DNA’.

The famous Lenihan DNA was carved out by Brian’s father, Brian Snr, who publicly suffered through his own health demons as a Minister.

Brian Jnr was no different - he had a job to do and cancer was not going to stop him.

Behind all of the politics, Brian Lenihan was an inherently nice and decent guy.

He had a few words for everyone and while he might be rushing here and there, he became a master in walking and talking.

In the last Government, he was given the nickname ‘Brainy Lenihan’ because of his massive intellect and his ability to read into a brief in no time.

But that intellect carried into his personal persona too - he was charming company, funny, witty and warm. People gravitated towards him, they wanted to be part of whatever the conversation was.

His time as Minister for Children has been lauded by Childrens’ Rights advocates as a turning point.

During his five years in that post, he was responsible for the creation of the Office of the Minister for Children, the appointment of Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children, the commencement of the National Longitudinal Survey, rigorous and serious engagement with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child process and reforms in the areas of youth justice and early years education to name but a few.

His time as Minister for Justice was brief - but it was something he relished. The law was part and parcel of his make up and he enjoyed getting stuck into this portfolio.

His promotion by former Taoiseach Brian Cowen to the Department of Finance in May 2008 was a huge leap - but by no means an impossible leap - for Brian Lenihan.

He was taking over a poisoned chalice and a chalice that would shape his legacy.

The economy was going down the toilet and of the entire Fianna Fail team, Lenihan was the best equipped to try and steer the ship to some level of safety.

History will, no doubt, judge his role in Ireland’s economic crisis. But Brian Lenihan would want for nothing less.

He put his country ahead of his personal well-being at a time of huge suffering.

He was a true patriot - it is part of his DNA.

Fillet of Leo and a slice of humble pie please?

2011-06-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Smackdown - that is the only word that can be used to describe Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s treatment of Minister for Loose Lips Leo Varadkar after he scared the living bejasus out of the Government at the weekend.

Leo has always been his own man - he had unique views on Bertie Ahern and he even had his own unique views on the late Dr Garret FitzGerald.

But his comments to the Sunday Times newspaper that Ireland would need a second bailout did not go down well - with anyone, well except for Independent TD Mick Wallace who congratulated Varadkar on his honesty!

In fact he received two other pats on the back by economic luminaries such as Independent TD Shane Ross and economic expert Constantin Gurdgiev.

Varadkar’s comments were picked up by 2,200 media outlets around the world, putting Ireland’s economic recovery in peril according to Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.

“The problem is,” Martin said, “that loose talk costs jobs.”

Needless to say, there was no sign of Varadkar in the Dail chamber when his views were being filleted by the opposition. Maybe he was recovering from the fillet of Enda he received earlier at the Cabinet meeting for his ‘loose talk’.

Anyway, Enda has adopted his tough man approach and has spoken to all of his Ministers - telling them, no doubt, to tow the party line...... or else!

Cracks in the coalition?

2011-06-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

It was only a matter of time that the small hairline cracks would start appearing in the shiny-happy Fine Gael/Labour coalition.

But like with all hairline cracks, they must be treated and dealt with immediately for fear of more long term, permanent damage.

Richard Bruton’s plans to tackle wage setting mechanisms has proven to be a fault line in the relationship.

He had no sooner announced his proposals than Labour back bench TDs went down his neck over it.

One of the most vocal was Dublin South East Labour TD Kevin Humphries who said that Bruton should be focusing his attentions on the fees paid to lawyers and doctors rather than to the low paid.

So what did Tanaiste and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore make of this dissent among his party ranks?

Not too much, if truth be told. He is of the view that every backbencher is entitled to voice their opinion in a democratic society.

Time to call the plasterer - there could be many more cracks surfacing
on the horizon yet.

RTE scoops the Irish Times!

2011-06-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well done to the crew from RTE’s Week in Politics who have managed to scoop the Irish Times by bringing out their own election book, which was launched this week by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Up to now, the Irish Times had the monopoly on election books with their excellent Nealon’s Guide to the successive Dails.

But RTE pipped the so-called ‘paper of record’ to the post with their own guide to the last election and the new Dail.

Edited by Deirdre McCarthy and featuring contributions by all the political staff of RTE - including Sean O’Rourke, Micheal Lehane, Brian Dowling, David McCullagh and David Davin-Power among others - it is a virtual encyclopaedia for any political anorak.

Featuring plenty of graphs and questions and answers with all TDs, it is a great read and an even better reference book.

Well done to all involved.

Kenny is on a Losing Streak with journos!

2011-05-26T03:07:00.000-07:00

Who knew that Taoiseach Enda Kenny was such a fan of Winning Streak presenter Kathryn Thomas - or maybe it is just his back room team that are fans?

Well in any case, the presence of the RTE presenter INSIDE the Taoiseach's office during a courtesy call by the Queen last week was certainly called into question at a Political Correspondents briefing this week.

To say noses were out of joint would be an understatement - and rightfully so.

All journalists had to fight to secure a place in the different pools to cover all aspects of the Queen's visit. When she visited Government Buildings last week, the hacks that cover the Taoiseach day in, day out, were left standing outside waiting for a glimpse of our new best friend.

However, inside the Taoiseach's office, was Thomas who told the nation she was walking her dog when she got a call from Government Press Secretary Feargal Purcell telling her to be in Government Buildings within an hour.

So why the special treatment for someone who isn't even a working news journalist?

Enda and his team may have had a Winning Streak with the back-to-back VIP visits, but that has turned into a Losing Streak as far as media relations go.

2011-05-26T03:06:00.000-07:00

Amid all the celebrations in Moneygall, one man cut a sorry figure.

Behind the crowds of people who lined the main street to greet US President Obama skulked one man in an overcoat.

That man was none other than former Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

But let us not forget that it was Brian Cowen who was the first politician to invite president Obama to Ireland.

And he is also the man credited with coining the Irish phrase 'Is feidir linn'.

So in that respect, he has done the State some service!

'Rich Boy' Barrett's own goal.

2011-05-26T03:04:00.000-07:00

Richard 'Rich Boy' Boyd Barrett really should have known better when he appeared on a Late Late Show panel discussion last Friday night on the Queen's visit to Ireland.

While the rest of the country was enjoying the glow of the historic and successful visit, Boyband Barrett was having none of it.

He wasn't gushing in his praise for the English Monarch's visit - he is entitled to his opinion - but he did say he wouldn't have a problem of she wanted to come to Ireland 'on a private fishing trip'!!

Did he learn anything at all with his expensive private education? Did he not realise that Prince Philip's uncle, Louis Mountbatten, was murdered by the IRA during a private fishing visit to Ireland?

It was an own-goal by Boyband Barrett and his comment, as Ryan Tubridy said, was 'very unfortunate'.

Looking Up to Obama?

2011-05-26T03:02:00.000-07:00

It was a week of firsts for Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore - meeting the Queen and meeting US President Barack Obama.

On his first impressions of the the US President, Mr Gilmore said: " I actually thought he would be taller!"

Tá Gerry ag Speaking as Jaeilge again!!

2011-05-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

A new language has been introduced in Leinster House. It is keeping a lot of people on their feet just trying to get to the bottom of it and we have Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams to thank for it.

The new language is being called Jaeilge and seems to be the first language of Gerry Adams.

The new language, which is learned in the Jailteacht, has its roots in Irish and English but even experts in both languages have difficulties figuring out exactly what Adams is saying.

Political prisoners, who had lots of time to learn, often became fluent in Irish behind bars in prison – or the Jailteacht, as it is referred to.

Adams has a habit of speaking in both Jaeilge and English while on the floor of the Dail. He can be very easy to understand but purists of the Irish language are cringing with embarrassment.

One expert pointed out that Adams constantly mixes up his tenses, past, present and conditional – when speaking.

“He was speaking in the Dail the other day about having debates in Irish and I honestly could not understand a word he was saying,” one fluent Irish speaker said.

Adams’ Irish may be remedial to the ears of experts but how is he on understanding what others are saying to him in the native tongue?

Quite good, in fact. And sure, if he runs into any translation problems, his colleague and fluent Irish speaker Aengus O Snodaigh is always sitting behind him ready to provide a quick translation!!

Quick off the Merc

2011-05-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

So the Ministerial Mercs have disappeared from the car park of Leinster House and instead are being replaced with a variety of makes and models of Ministerial transport.

The switch over to civilian drivers hasn’t changed much – in fact, many of the original Gardai drivers have simply retired from the Force to take up full time jobs with the Ministers.

And just to prove the current batch of Ministers are keeping it real when it comes to austerity, many are being driven around in a range of 07 cars.

A Right Royal I-Do

2011-05-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Irish politics’ first Royal Couple – Fine Gael’s Lucinda Creighton and Senator Paul Bradford – who have tied the knot.

The couple (pictured far left) chose the day of the Royal Wedding to celebrate their nuptials and it marked the end of a very busy week for the pair of them.

As a nice wedding present, Paul Bradford was re-elected to the Seanad just before he said ‘I Do’.

Naoto Bad Idea At All!!

2011-05-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan will not accept his wages as Premier until the crisis at the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant is over.

He is doing this because he believes the government bears a great responsibility for the nuclear accident as it has pursued a nuclear energy policy.

Any chance of our politicians giving up their wages until the economic crisis is over? After all, they bear a responsibility for what has happened, along with many others.

Are the political elite up to the mark?

2011-04-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

Do you know the difference between your White Papers and your Green Papers? Can you explain the Proportional Representation voting system?

Well fear not because politics as a subject could soon be put on the secondary school curriculum in Ireland.

A proposed syllabus for the subject is being finalised and will be presented to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn for examination.

It will be up to the Minister whether or not it is included as a subject in the Leaving Cert.

Early drafts of the proposed syllabus include the difference between left wing and right wing politics, globalisation and cultural theory.

Let's take a look at some candidates who could prove to be excellent politics teachers and those who would be lucky to get a pass if they were doing it in the Leaving Cert.

2011-04-27T06:49:00.000-07:00

THE GOOD:

DR GARRET FITZGERALD
Known as ‘Garret The Good’, his knowledge of political history in Ireland is second to none. He has served as Taoiseach on two occasions and is revered in political circles for his depth and knowledge of politics.

2011-04-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

SEAN O'ROURKE
The RTE News At One presenter is the media’s answer to Jaws as no politician goes unscathed when he is in command. When it comes to questioning and probing, he has no equal.

2011-04-27T06:47:00.000-07:00

MARY ROBINSON
Ireland’s first female President is the perfect person to teach people all about the Constitution. She may have only served one term as President but her global reach since then has been fairly impressive. She has served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and is a member of the prestigious Elders - a group of world leaders convened to contribute their wisdom, leadership and integrity to tackle some of the world’s toughest problems.

2011-04-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

VINCENT BROWNE
The Dark Knight of late night politics on TV3, Vincent has had more than his fair share of political scrapes in the past. His classes would be livened up by the numerous rows and debates that would be guaranteed par for the course.

2011-04-27T06:45:00.001-07:00

SHANE ROSS
The Independent TD knows how to get to the bottom of a bureaucratic minefield (just look at the work he did with FAS). When it comes to explaining the finer points of politics, he would be hard to beat.

2011-04-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

THE BAD

BERTIE AHERN
This is the man who, when he was Minister for Finance, didn’t even have a bank account. Despite being Taoiseach for 11 years, we now know that he was living on ‘Planet Bertie’ for most of that time. His classes would descend into farce.

2011-04-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

JACKIE HEALY-RAE
He would be a perfect teacher for a class who want to know the difference between a pot hole and an overgrown ditch. But when it comes to debating issues of national importance, the South Kerry man always lost his voice.

2011-04-27T06:40:00.001-07:00

BRIAN LENIHAN
Lock up your Communion money because Lenihan could direct those nasty bullies from the ECB to come in and take it off you. He would be more suited to teaching creative writing than politics.

2011-04-27T06:38:00.000-07:00

MICHAEL LOWRY
The Moriarty Tribunal didn’t believe a lot of what he was saying, so it is unlikely that Leaving Cert students would.You could argue Lowry has enough political experience to pass on to students but the Tribunal dealt his credibility a blow.

2011-04-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

GERRY ADAMS
If the Sinn Fein leader can’t come clean over whether or not he was a member of the IRA, then how can he teach the youth of Ireland about politics? His students would doubt every word he says - and that would make his job next to impossible.

Tips from Ed of the hacks pack

2011-04-21T02:49:00.000-07:00

IT is hard to keep a gang of Political Correspondents quiet for any period of time but when Edwin Chen is in the room, you could have heard a pin drop.

So just who was this stranger who popped into Leinster House on Tuesday as the guest of the Oireachtas - he is the closest thing that Leinster House had to US President Barack Obama himself.

Edwin is a journalist with over 40 years experience and has worked as Senior White House Correspondent with Bloomberg News. He was also the president of the prestigious White House Correspondents Association.

He was on a flying visit to Dublin and popped in to regale some of the Leinster House hacks with stories of his time covering three presidents - Clinton, Bush Jnr and Obama.

And his view on Obama’s impending visit to these shores next month - it will do him no harm in sweeping up the Irish American vote in the presidential election next year!

The best thing about his job, according to himself, was telling people that he was a Senior White House Correspondent.

Can you imagine an Irish Political Correspondent saying the best thing about their job was, ehmm, being a Political Correspondent? Don’t think so!!

Put a cork in it!

2011-04-21T02:48:00.000-07:00

SILLY pronouncements from politicians - we should be so used to them at this stage.

But the Dail is full of newbie TDs and so our inboxes are stuffed with silly press releases and pronouncements from the newbies who will learn - at some stage, we hope!

The daftest press release of the week came from Labour TD for Dublin Mid West Robert Dowds.

Dowds has called for the end of the sale of alcohol in glass containers - in order to ‘tackle the serious problem which broken glass causes in the country’s parks and sports pitches’.

So we should sacrifice our ‘bottle’ of wine for a plastic replacement just because some yobs decide to dump their bottles in a field rather than a bin?

Dream on Dowds!

Lovely Jubbly!!

2011-04-21T02:45:00.000-07:00

TARTAN caps off to one user of the Politics.ie website for one of the funniest ‘politicians that look like stuff’ postings seen on the site for some time.

Going by the site name of ‘momoney’, this poster pointed out the remarkable similarities between one family who operate on a ‘wink and a nod’ basis and the infamous Trotters from Only Fools and Horses.

Again, caps off to you momoney!

O'Donoghue Jnr to Kerry on Dail tradition?

2011-04-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

FORMER Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue may be down – but he is certainly not out. Kerry people are made of sterner stuff than that.

And down in Cahersiveen, it looks as if the O’Donoghues could be preparing an assault on Irish politics again in the near future.

John’s son Michael Pat (25) is a final year student in UCD and he has said that he would consider a Dail run in the future to continue his family’s tradition of service to the constituency.

Michael Pat – who is named after his grandfather, the late Labour TD Michael Pat Murphy – is studying commerce in UCD and is a former officer of the students union there.

He has also been active in his father’s campaigns in recent years.

Sean Barrett lays down the law!

2011-04-14T03:53:00.000-07:00

AND speaking of Ceann Comhairles, the current Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett is not a person to be messed with.

Oh no – the Dun Laoghaire TD is putting up with no crap in his Dail chamber.

And it doesn’t matter who you are!

Taoiseach Enda Kenny (the leader of his own party) is one of the latest people to feel the wrath of the chair this week.

During Questions to the Taoiseach on Tuesday, Mr Kenny was told in no uncertain terms by the Ceann Comhairle to ‘stick to the questions’.

Cue plenty of muffled giggles from around the Dail chamber.

Farewell to Gent Tony

2011-04-14T03:49:00.000-07:00

LEINSTER House said goodbye last week to one of the great gentlemen of Irish politics.

No, he isn’t a politician but with the wealth of experience that Labour’s Tony Heffernan has (pictured far right at his final Political Correspondents' press briefing) maybe he should have been.

Tony retired from the Labour Party’s press office last week after a long career. Among those to wish him well in his retirement included Labour stalwarts Eamon Gilmore and Pat Rabbitte.

But just because he is gone does not mean that he will be forgotten. A gent like Tony simply can’t fade off into retirement.

Methinks he will remain a powerhouse of wisdom in the Labour Party ranks for a long time to come yet.

Twisted Zeppelin!!

2011-04-14T03:47:00.000-07:00

WHEN Led Zeppelin met Twisted Sister, a beautiful relationship was created.

And it seems that the offspring of that great match is infiltrating Irish political life as we speak.

Just look at Independent TD Mick Wallace – he is surely the secret son/brother or twin of Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider.

Either that or Wallace is planning his own Leinster House hard-rock tribute band!

FF Front Bench Mans Up

2011-04-14T03:45:00.000-07:00

FIANNA Fail unveiled its new front bench this week – and to be honest, it was a bit of a damp squib!!

Talk about jobs for the boys!! (Fianna Fail has no female TDs)

Quite literally EVERY member of the party got a new gig (the party is now just down to 20!)

It has nearly come to the stage where the party’s backroom team is nearly bigger than the party itself.

What next? The annual think-in in the coffee shop up the street?

What did they do to deserve Bertie?

2011-04-14T03:42:00.000-07:00

BERTIE Ahern hasn’t gone away, you know!

He was last spotted giving advice to the Nigerian Government on the need to ensure consistent and transparent policies if their economy is to attract much needed foreign investment an economic development.

Nigeria, consistent and transparent in one sentence? He must have moved back to Planet Bertie!

Political Allsorts!

2011-04-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

Staff working around Leinster House now know exactly how a teacher feels on the first day back at school with a new class, desperately trying to figure out who all the new faces are.

A handy photo guide to the new TDs, issued by the Houses of the Oireachtas, is a must-have accessory in Leinster House at the moment if you are to distinguish between students and some of the younger TDs.

Following the massive blood-letting in the election, the new administration is only a few weeks old and it seems even some of the TDs are still getting to grips with their new digs.

Common sights around the House are lost TDs trying to figure out where the Bills Office is or the Debates Office (they figured out where the bar and the restaurant were on day one!)

But it seems it will take them a bit of time to get used to the rules and traditions of the great house.

Young TDs can be seen blatantly chewing gum in the Dail chamber (a big no no) while over on ‘Independent Avenue’, the dress code is causing some raised eyebrows among many.

Wexford Independent Mick Wallace never fails to disappoint. We have seen every colour of the rainbow on him since he first took his seat.

In some quarters, they are even taking bets as to when he will wear a football shirt into the hallowed chamber!

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan - while being as neat as he can possibly be with a head of long hair and a glorious goatee - also looks a bit out of place surrounded by the suits and ties.

South Kerry’s Michael Healy-Rae is almost unidentifiable without his trademark hat and as for People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd-Barrett,he has turned up almost every day wearing black jeans.

Even Socialist TD Joe Higgins raised a few eyebrows on Tuesday. The normally dapper politician turned up in the Dail chamber wearing a casual beige jacket as opposed to the normal sports jacket that he normally wears.

As one stalwart of Leinster House told this column, ‘you’d think that they would at least dress up, this is the national parliament after all. But then again, aren’t they rebels who think they have a cause?”!

Leo scops the press!

2011-04-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

Start as you mean to go on - that is the mantra of new Transport Minister Leo Varadkar who scooped every news organisation by being the first to reveal the cost of his St Patrick’s Day junket to India.

Every year, newspapers scramble to get the cost of the different Ministerial junkets but this year, young Leo decided to save us all the hassle and published the exact costs on his website - within days of returning.

Leo has never been backward in coming forward about how he spends his money - he was one of the first TDs to itemise his expenditure on his website.

And it seems he is carrying that practice on into Ministerial life.

For the record, the cost of his six day trip to India (accompanied by his private secretary as is normal practice) came in at just over €9,000.

This included flights to India, internal flights, overnight accommodation and gifts for dignitaries.

During the course of the trip, the Minister said he met over 100 people and addressed over 1,000 people at evening evening events in New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Smokers' cause won't catch light

2011-04-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

Micheal Martin - turn away now. Do not read another line!

A new campaign has been started to convince the new Government to tweak the non-smoking laws in Ireland to give pubs a bit of, erm, breathing space!

Seven years after the smoking ban came into effect in all Irish workplaces, a smokers’ group has called for the legislation to be amended to bring Ireland into line with most European countries and ‘help save the Irish pub’.

The group is called Forest Eireann and its spokesman John Mallon said since the ban was introduced, more than 1,000 pubs have gone bust with more closures on the way.

“A sensible compromise has been found in countries such as Holland where small, owner-managed pubs can choose to be smoking or non-smoking, and larger premises are given the option of having separate, well-ventilated smoking rooms,” he said.

“With a change of government, let’s have a change of heart on the smoking ban and help save the Irish pub.”

Considering that the new administration is healthier than the last (Enda Kenny is a cyclist and a mountain climber), I’d say Forest Eireann’s call will disappear in a puff of smoke!

Political Twitterings

2011-04-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

THE UK’S MPs have been given the all-clear to use Twitter while on the floor of the House of Commons.

The new rules, devised by the Commons’ Procedure Committee, has given permission to the UK’s 650 members of parliament to use the microblogging site while in the Commons chamber.

It’s also approved the usage of iPads, laptop computers and smartphones – with the committee agreeing that with “those who argue that [using Twitter] brings Parliament to a whole new audience.”

On the topic of tablet computers like iPads, the committee found that using electronic notes as a memory aid should be no different to the old-fashioned paper notes.

Nice to see the UK following Ireland's 'unofficial' lead.

While there are no set rules on the use of Tweeting from the Dail chamber, the fact is that many do.

And as for using an iPad in the chamber? That is so last year for the
Irish lads and lassies!

A bit of political Four Play

2011-01-13T03:10:00.000-08:00

A four-way debate - that is the only fair way that RTE can accommodate all the political parties in the run-up to the general election.

In the past, it was simply a two-way debate between what were the two biggest parties - Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Last year, Labour - quite rightly - was putting RTE under pressure to ensure that the leaders’ debate before the election would be a three-way one including themselves.

Judging by the opinion polls of the past 12 months, Labour can no longer be regarded as a small party, sidelined to a minor debate.

But now a new power has emerged - Sinn Fein. And with the last opinion poll showing that they had as much support as Fianna Fail, surely there is a valid argument to include them in such a debate?

To keep them out based just on the number of TDs the party has at the moment would be a gross insult to the people, many who, for the first time, are preparing to give the party a vote.

And it is the same for the Labour supporters. Labour will be a significant power in the next Government and Eamon Gilmore deserves a podium at the leaders’ debate.

Look at the leaders’ debates across in the UK in the run-up to the elections there last year. They were three-way debates and it wasn’t any huge problem. In fact, they were informative and entertaining.

The Greens will, no doubt, want a place in a leaders’ debate if it is a free for all. But a line has to be drawn and with little more than 3% support, it is hard to argue that they should be there.

A four-way debate is the fairest way that RTE can deal with this.

But then again, it may not be RTE who does it at the end of the day. TV3 will, no doubt, be keen to pitch for their slice of the action.

To be fair to TV3, they are taking the bull by the horns in overhauling TV coverage of elections.

They want an end to the archaic broadcasting moratorium in advance of polling day.

Current guidelines drawn up by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland force TV and radio stations to stop virtually all political coverage in a 48 hour period, which includes the day before polling day and the
day of the poll itself.

However this does not apply to print media, online media or to foreign media which are available in Ireland.

TV3 believes this moratorium has no basis in law, is non-existent in other countries, is ineffective and is archaic.

Final round for Cowen

2011-01-13T03:01:00.000-08:00

And so reads the Gospel according to Seanie FitzPatrick:

“For information (on the economy), one of the best sources is FT.com. For analysis, read the Economist. But for the real McCoy, you can’t beat the nineteenth hole on the golf course.”

Forget about the economy, forget about the state of the banks, forget about the politicians who are about as popular as nasty veruccas - it seems that a simple round of golf may have put the final nail in Brian Cowen’s political coffin.

While this column is a true believer that golf is a good walk spoiled, it may now be a case of golf being a good career spoiled!

Blame Game for Brain Drain

2011-01-13T02:59:00.000-08:00

RTE screened a remarkable and moving documentary on Monday night entitled Departure Day, in which it chronicled the plight of our young (and old) being forced to emigrate to find work.

To Canada and Australia and other corners of the globe they went in search of a brighter future for themselves and their families.

However, it was interesting to see how people tried to put their own political spin on the heartbreaking - and avoidable - subject of emigration.

Most, naturally enough, blamed the Government for the mess, saying that they had done absolutely nothing to stop the brain drain from the country.

Many of those critics were from the ranks of Fine Gael and Labour.

However, the last big emigration wave that Ireland witnessed was back in the 80s when, guess who, was in power? Fine Gael and Labour.

When challenged on this, their response was that they inherited the mess.

Well, they are about to inherit another mess now - are they up to the challenge of solving it? Time will tell.

Dan leads the race to be Top Twit

2011-01-13T02:55:00.000-08:00

While we don’t want to start the New Year off by offending someone, I’m sure Dan Boyle won’t mind that he is being tipped to be the biggest political twit of 2011!

Bookies Paddy Power have installed the Cork Senator as their favourite to send the most tweets between now and the forthcoming general election.

Dan is a well-known social media enthusiast with over 8,900 followers on Twitter and has tweeted a thumb-numbing 3,120 times.

Others in the running for the title include Fine Gael Senator Paschal Donohue, Green TDs Paul Gogarty and Ciaran Cuffe and Fianna Fail’s Chris Andrews.

Fine Gael spokesperson for Transport and the Marine, Simon Coveney, who gave Taoiseach Brian Cowen a morning to remember last September is available to back at 25/1.

Ken Robertson from Paddy Power said when it comes to Twitter ‘Dan Boyle, with almost 10,000 followers, is the man with everyone in his rear view mirror’.

Fianna Fail leave poisoned chalice for new regime

2010-12-09T03:54:00.000-08:00

You have to take your hat off to Fianna Fail because Tuesday’s budget proved for certain that they are ‘the most cunning and the most devious of all’.

Without breaking a sweat, the party top brass rallied together to pen a budget that had so many hallmarks of sliveen-ism that should earn in a place in history as the ultimate ‘screw you’ budget.

The people of Ireland are today counting the cost of what the budget means for them.

But on a political level, the budget was a sneaky and deadly handball right into the hands of the next government.

Like the last sting of a dying wasp, the dying Fianna Fail-led Government has tossed some of the most savage cuts right into the hands of the next Government.

Take the controversial Site Value (property) Tax, for example. Finance Minister Brian Lenihan announced in his four-year plan that a flat payment of €100 would be introduced in 2012.

Why didn’t he introduce that charge in Tuesday’s budget? Because he wanted the next Government - a possible Fine Gael and Labour coalition - to have to implement that savage cost and bear the wrath of a nation.

And what about the domestic water charges? In the four year plan, Lenihan said they would be in place by 2014.

Why not a nominal charge of €100 now? Because he wanted that dirty hike to be announced by Fine Gael and Labour.

The State pension will not remain untouched for long. Lenihan made the cunning decision not to change it this year knowing that next year, cuts will have to be made in it and the government that will do that will not be his.

And don’t be fooled by attempts by the political elite to show that they are prepared to lead by example by taking pay cuts.

What Lenihan has effectively done is cut the salary of the next government as he knows there are only weeks left in this current one.

It was a cleverly tactical move by Lenihan - cut the pay of their political opponents before they get into office. There is little they can do about it then!

In the vast confines of Government Buildings, Brian Lenihan and Brian Cowen dusted off an antique chalice and filled it with poison.

And in one budget, it has passed this poison chalice - and many of the most difficult cuts and hikes to come - to his political opponents.

When Fine Gael and Labour move to the Government side of the house next year - as they are expected to do - they won’t have many reasons to celebrate.

Their first budget will be bloody and unpopular - and they have Brian Lenihan to thank for that.

Axing Biffo's Bunch will cost over €6m

2010-12-09T03:51:00.000-08:00

Voting Fianna Fail out of Government will cost the taxpayer in excess of €6m in golden handshakes and pension payments in just two years.

And if all members of the current cabinet and ministers of state manage to get re-elected into opposition, it will cost us another €2.3m in severance payments.

The platinum pension and termination schemes enjoyed by our TDs mean that they will not be stuck for a euro or two to pay for their electricity or gas bill when the post-election chill sets in.

While the nation freezes - both literally and financially - the Fianna Fail TDs heading into battle can look forward to a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow if their battle fails.

If the recent opinion polls are anything to go by, Fianna Fail could lose as many as 30 seats.

For every TD who loses their seat in the election - they are entitled to four financial windfalls.

Each TD will get a termination lump sum and over a period of 12 months, they will receive termination payments. This is a form of severance payment for them being voted out on their ears.

The termination lump sum, which is not subject to tax, is the equivalent of about two months salary.

The termination payments depend on how long the TD has served in the Dail.

It can range from €5,791 for a TD with just three years experience to over €61,000 for a TD who has 20 years or more service.

Once the termination payments have been paid, then the pension kicks in.

Pensions are calculated on the length of time served. Basically, the TD gets one fortieth of their salary per year of service. Serve is capped at 20 years.

So a TD with 10 years service would be entitled to an annual pension for the rest of their lives of €24, 606 while a TD with 20 years service gets the top pension - almost €50,000 a year.

If a TD has served on a Committee or held any other type of office during their time in politics, they can accrue extra pension payments based on the positions held.

On top of the pension, they are entitled to a tax-free pension lump sum, which is calculated at three times the annual pension. This gives long-timers a windfall of up to €150,000.

While no one knows which members of Fianna Fail will lose their seats at the next election - one thing is for sure, there will be a large group of them.

If, for example, 30 TDs go - 10 of which have more than 20 years service, 10 with 15 years service, five with ten years service and five with three years service - the final bill to the taxpayer after two years will be €6.2m.

And this does not take into account the annual pensions that will be paid to the losing TDs for the rest of their lives.

A severance system also exists for politicians who are re-elected but who go from ministers to backbenchers.

Under 1992 legislation, ministers who lose their jobs are entitled to severance pay.

The severance payment is paid over a two year period.

For a Minister, severance would be €98,844 over a two year period and for a Minister of State it would be €46,578 over two years.

The Tanaiste would get €115,782 and the Taoiseach would get €135,792 over two years on severance.

So assuming that all of the cabinet and junior ministers - including the Ceann Comhairle and the Leas Ceann Comhairle - are re-elected into opposition, the total amount the taxpayer would be paying them in severance over two years would amount to more than €2.3m.

This €2.3m would be paid to them ON TOP of their Dail salaries.

Fianna Fail grounds next Government

2010-12-09T03:48:00.000-08:00

Somewhere in a dark bunker in the Department of Finance, a few political mandarins are rubbing their hands with glee - as they have just got one over on Fine Gael!!

In three words - The Government Jet!!

Yes, the hallmark of excess in Government, the not-so-humble Government Jet has had its fair share of knockers.

And now that Fianna Fail is intent on doing everything it can possibly to to make life for Fine Gael/Labour in power as difficult as possible, it has decided not to replace the Jet when it goes to the aircraft hangar in the sky.

Just two years ago, the Government had three Air Corps aircraft at their disposal. One has been decommissioned and now the Gulfstream Jet will not be replaced.

To be fair to our Air Corps, they have gotten fierce value out of the Gulfstream Jet. It has the most air miles on it than any other similar Gulfstream Jet in the world.

But all good things come to an end and the end of the runway is coming closer for the Jet.

That leaves the Government with the use of just one aircraft, a much smaller one, which from hereonin will be used to fly Ministers to Europe for meetings.

This means that the new Government won’t have a decent jet - capable of holding more than 10 people and one that can fly around the world - at their disposal.

And if they want one, they will have to make the highly unpopular decision to buy one.

And these babies don’t come cheap!!

So what happens now? Well commercial travel is the only way forward and for some reason, I don’t think our new breed of Ministers will be travelling cattle class!

Considering all the officials that normally accompany a Minister on an overseas trip, that is a serious wad of money that will be spent from the taxpayers purse on business class airfares.

What many people don’t seem to take into consideration is that we - the people of Ireland - own the Government Jet.

Not only was it a plush overseas taxi for our politicians but it also served as a training craft for our excellent Air Corps.

So its demise is a loss on a number of levels - a loss for the pampered politicians, a loss for the next Government and, above all, a loss for our Air Corps.

New map can lead us to Broke Park!

2010-12-09T03:47:00.000-08:00

As Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said in the past, the deeds to Ireland Inc have been handed over to bail out our banks.

Well to mark the fact that we have mortgaged future generations to pay for the mess the bankers made, a new map has been drawn up of Ireland.

Gone is Munster, Leinster, Connaught and Ulster. Gone are the counties that bring us such pride.

Instead, the country is divided into five distinct areas - Barclay’s in the North, Deutsche Bank in the West, Goldman Sachs in the South, the IMF in the midlands and AXA in Leinster.

That should make for an interesting All-Ireland final!!

Politicians CAN put a smile on your face!!

2010-12-09T03:44:00.000-08:00

There haven’t been many reasons to bring a smile to the faces of the nation this week. But let’s give it a go!

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill and the barber replied: ‘I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week’.

The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a Garda comes in for a haircut and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied: ‘I cannot accept money from you, I am doing community service this week’.

The Garda was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at the door.

Then a TD came in for a haircut and when he went to pay his bill, the barber replied again: ‘I cannot accept money from you as I am doing community service this week’.

The TD was very happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen TDs lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of the country and the politicians who run it.

Both politicians and nappies need to be changed often - and for the same reason!

Demand to kerb cyclists' easy ride

2010-12-09T03:41:00.000-08:00

Our ‘Take A Bow’ award for this week goes to Labour Cllr Kevin Humphreys who wants on-the-spot fines for cyclists who continue to break the law.

His proposal would allow for on-the-spot fines for cyclists who cycle on the footpath, break red lights and cycle at night with no lights.

While the vast majority of cyclists are careful and law-abiding, there is a small minority who have no regard for their safety or for the safety of others.

“I received many complaints from the public about cyclists using footpaths and pedestrian areas at high speed without any regard for pedestrians,” he said.

“Cycling in the city should be encouraged and facilities improved for them but pedestrian and other road users should also be protected.”

As a result of Kevin Humphries suggestion, Dublin City Council has written to Transport Minister Noel Dempsey asking him to bring in legislation to allow for fix charged penalties for cyclists who break the law.

Eamon Gilmore is 'Working On A Dream' for the Boss!

2010-11-18T06:56:00.000-08:00

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen - get your E-Street Shuffling ass over to Ireland as you are needed on very important political business.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore is hoping that the The Boss - Springsteen and NOT Haughey - can lend his musical magic to Labour’s general election campaign with a high-octane anthem.

Gilmore recently became the latest in a long line of Irish politicians who outed himself as a Bruce Springsteen fan - something he and this column has in common.

So let’s see - I wonder what His Royal Springsteeness can provide for Labour’s general election campaign?

While Gilmore won’t actually be ‘Countin’ On A Miracle’ to win, he is a ‘Cautious Man’ who will be using his ‘Human Touch’ to ensure that there are ‘Better Days’ ahead of us.

In this ‘Jungleland’ of Ireland, he knows it has hard to be ‘A Saint In The City’, so instead of ‘Living On The Edge Of The World’, Gilmore will be hoping to provide ‘Living Proof’ that he is not a ‘Nothing Man’.

But first things first, he needs to get Brian Cowen to take a quick spin along ‘Thunder Road’ out to “Mary’s Place’ at the Aras.

The, following ‘The Long Goodbye’, Cowen can go on ‘Radio Nowhere’ and declare to the country that Fianna Fail and the general public are ‘Worlds Apart’.

Within minutes, Eamon and his very own E-Street Band will be ‘Out In The Street’ selling their version of ‘The Promised Land’ to the electorate!!

But before any of that, Labour has to pick its election anthem and it has called on party members to put their thinking caps on to come up with suggestions.

Some of the biggest and the best in the political business have been known for their political anthems.

JFK had Frank Sinatra’s ‘High Hopes’, Bill Clinton had Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Don’t Stop’, George W Bush had Tom Petty’s ‘I Won’t Back Down’ (until Petty threatened to sue him!), and also-ran John McCain had ABBA’s ‘Take A Chance On Me’.

And leave it to Barack Obama to produce his very own ‘Greatest Hits’ of his election campaign, featuring songs such as ‘City of Blinding Lights’ by U2, ‘The Rising’ by Bruce Springsteen, ‘Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours’ by Stevie Wonder, ‘Think’ by Aretha Franklin and ‘Higher and Higher’ by Jackie Wilson.

Labour's very own X-Factor

2010-11-18T06:54:00.000-08:00

Staying on things Labour and musical, it seems that the Labour camp are keeping a keen eye on X-Factor this year.

And the reason? One of its own is in the final!!

No, not Michael D or Joan Burton, but young Niall Horan from Mullingar who is part of the boyband One Direction!

Young Niall has been a Labour man for all of his tender years and come from good Labour stock in Mullingar.

In fact, during the 2007 general election campaign, he became quite an attraction on the Willie Penrose campaign as he helped the Labour TD canvass houses in the Mullingar area.

Always with an eye for the young ladies, Niall - even at that stage - brought a bit of hysteria to what would normally be a rather dull affair.

So as they sit it out and wait for Brian Cowen to call a general election, Labour party members are tuning in every Saturday and Sunday night to support one of their own - One Direction.

A Treely Good Idea

2010-11-18T06:49:00.000-08:00

Winter is here and the nights are getting colder.

But unfortunately, free cheese is not going to heat the homes of thousands of people across the land.

So here’s an idea to get one back on the Government for their excess in a time of plenty - claim your Millennium Tree now!

Back in 2000, over 1,500 acres of native woodland were designated as ‘People’s Millennium Forests’.

As part of the celebrations, a native tree was planted on behalf of every household in Ireland and a letter sent to every home telling them where that tree is.

Maybe it is time to cash in these trees for fire wood?

Well the country seems to have gone to hell in a handcart, we may as well take everything with us when we are going down.

Politicians telling porkies?? No way.

2010-11-18T06:47:00.000-08:00

An MP over in England was booted out of parliament recently, and his crime? Telling porkies about his opponent during the election campaign!

And now Fine Gael TD Billy Timmins wants similar legislation introduced in Ireland that would see politicians who break electoral law expelled.

He said inacurate and misleading information is often circulated about candidates at election time in Ireland and such legislation may assist in putting an end to the practice here.

God forbid if that were to happen - we might find ourselves in a situation where we will have absolutely no politicians!

'Wave' goodbye to Labour's Dail bid!

2010-11-11T05:15:00.000-08:00

Just what was Labour’s Frank McBrearty thinking when he entered the lion’s den that is Tonight with Vincent Browne this week to make his pitch for the Donegal South West by-election?

In the space of just 50 minutes, all of the good work done by Labour in increasing its popularity over the last 18 months disappeared down the tubes thanks to Big Frank.

Not only did he puzzle the nation with his ‘€8 bonds’ but then offered us an insight into his interpretation of a photo of a wave on the front page of one of the following days papers.

It was, according to Big Frank, the wave washing Fianna Fail out of power and the wave of support for the Gilmore Gale into government.

For many of the people watching the debate between four of the five candidates for the by-election, it was the wave washing McBrearty out of the race for good.

Twitter was alive with reaction to the so-called Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – Big Frank and his wave, Fianna Fail jersey-wearing Brian O Domhnaill, boring Barry O’Neill and preppy Pearse Doherty.

O Domhnaill was pilloried – and for good reason – for his stupid statement that this by-election ‘is not about politics’!

Well Brian, if it is not about politics, what is it about? My Little Pony? Call of Duty Black Ops perhaps? X Factor? Please tell us Brian as we were convinced that it is ALL about politics.

The there was the Fine Gael candidate Barry O’Neill who suffers from the same charisma deficit as his party leader Enda Kenny. An instant cure for insomnia is Barry so he may serve some purpose in Oireachtas Report if elected.

Pearse Doherty was the only one of the four who showed any understanding of what was going on. Donegal South West wouldn’t be having this by-election if it were not from him.

And then there was Big Frank, his €8 bonds and his wave.

“McBrearty makes Jackie Healy-Rae look like John F. Kennedy,” one person tweeted.

“I had a terrible vision of him (McBrearty), Jackie Healy-Rae and Martin Mansergh deciding the fate of the country over a few pints somewhere – in Mansergh’s case, perhaps a few small sherries,” tweeted another.

“Gilmore is going to drive to Donegal tomorrow, lock McBrearty in a room and throw away the key until after the general election,” another wrote.

And a personal favourite – ‘God be with the days when you could buy a bond and a bag of chips for €10!’

New robotic leader for Fine Gael?

2010-11-11T05:12:00.000-08:00

It seems that Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins has been leading the hunt for a new party leader and may have just found him – meet ASIMO the humanoid robot!

ASIMO is the culmination of two decades of humanoid robotics research by Honda engineers, Jim tells us.

ASIMO can run, walk on uneven slopes and surfaces, turn smoothly, climb stairs, and reach for and grasp objects, Jim tells us.

ASIMO can also comprehend and respond to simple voice commands.

ASIMO has the ability to recognize the face of a select group of individuals.

Using its camera eyes, ASIMO can map its environment and register stationary objects.

ASIMO can also avoid moving obstacles as it moves through its environment.

It is also believed that ASIMO can give a credible radio interview on major Fine Gael policy – something the party’s current leader can’t do.

So Jim, when are you bringing ASIMO home to Ireland. There will soon be a vacancy for a humanoid robot in the Department of the Taoiseach!

Mary, Mary - where are all the women gone?

2010-11-11T05:11:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe it but Tuesday marked the 20th anniversary of the election of Ireland’s first female President Mary Robinson.

And as Labour Women marked the anniversary, they said it was time for Irish women to once again ‘rock the system’.

“In Ireland, the prevailing macho political culture has contributed to a system in which squandered gains have given way to savage cuts,” said Labour Women Chair Katherine Dunne.

“Women are no worse or better than men when it comes to making difficult but fair decisions about how to run the country. But what is better is a balanced team that represents all the people equally.”

“As 50% of the population, women are sorely underrepresented as only 13% of TDs are women. Urgent measures are required to rectify this imbalance.”

Labour Women has called on the political parties who will make up the next government to implement recommended measures such as legislation for gender balance amongst Dáil candidates.

“Mary Robinson was, and still is, an inspiration to women in Ireland. She gave us hope to believe that true equality is within our grasp. Only when women take their full place at the decision-making table will we be able to achieve the true equality that Mary Robinson made us believe was possible,” said Katherine Dunne.

We can sing for our supper

2010-11-11T05:08:00.000-08:00

All this talk of bonds and budgets and cutback and austerity is driving me to drink!

Even the feared economist Morgan Kelly claims he doesn’t have a solution to it.

But one person who has a solution is RTE business reporter and all-round good egg Conor Brophy.

“We are at the stage now where we will need a charity rock concert to sort this country out. I like to think of it as Bond Aid.”!!

Eirigi paint stunt was child's play

2010-11-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

And so the lunatics have taken over the asylum and so-called ‘elected representatives’ have adopted a mob mentality – what a nasty little country Ireland has become.

That an elected representative like Louise Minihan should resort to paint throwing just to try and grab a bit of free publicity for her very questionable cause is nothing short of pathetic.

Mary Harney is no angel. She has been controversial in the decisions she has made. Our health system is in disarray and she is politically responsible.

But what right has a nobody like Louise Minihan to resort to thuggish behaviour by spraying the Minister with paint as she was turning the sod at a new mental health facility in Ballyfermot?

None. But then what would you expect from a person who managed to get themselves elected under the Sinn Fein banner only then to jump ship almost immediately to the left-wing republican group Eirigi.

If Minihan was in any way politically astute, she would have organised her protest in a more intelligent way rather than behaving like an animal in a zoo.

Yes we all have our problems with the health service. Yes, people are dying waiting for treatment. Yes there is a massive lack of services for the sick and vulnerable in society.

Feelings are running high and why wouldn’t they be.

But if Minihan wanted to change this, she could have used that little Eirigi brain of hers in a more adult way.

Instead she revelled in her five minutes of fame and tried to make herself out as a hero of modern times.

“I could have shot her and I think people would have still shook my hand,” she stupidly said afterwards.

Her behaviour was nothing short of thuggish and the outpouring of sympathy for Mary Harney in this situation has been huge.

Politics aside, that Harney continued with the sod-turning after being childishly sprayed with paint is a measure of the woman’s
professionalism.

For Minihan, it was a publicity stunt that completely backfired.

For Harney, it was a crude signal of the anger that is out there over the cutbacks in the health service.

Summertime - and the livin' ain't easy!

2010-11-05T17:41:00.000-07:00

Campaigning politicians come in all shapes and sizes and political hues – so step forward Fine Gael’s David Stanton who is at it again.

It is an annual call that comes from his office deep inside the Fine Gael bowels of Leinster House but an annual call that is all but ignored – year in and year out.

And his call? We shouldn’t have to put our clocks back – summertime should last all year round!

To be fair to David, he has backed up this annual call with reasons why we should have left our clocks the way they were last Sunday morning.

“Longer summer time could save energy costs by reducing consumption and carbon emissions, boost road safety and help tourism,” he claims.

He said the USA extended summer time by four weeks in 2005 in order to cut down on energy use. American summer time runs for eight months from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

“Summer time in Ireland and across Europe runs for just seven months.”

Stanton has written to the Government seeking an extension of summer time.

We await the reply!!

Ministerial drivers - beware!

2010-11-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

A word to Ministers and their drivers – be afraid, be very afraid as Twitter is on your tail!

Economist Brian Lucey has set up his very own Twitter campaign to identify Ministerial cars that are idle or doing jobs that they really shouldn’t be doing (like bringing Ministerial wives shopping or picking up Ministerial kids from school etc).

Twitter users are being asked to tweet any sightings they have of Ministerial cars around the country and say what they are actually
doing.

“If you see a State car used for shopping, family outings etc, tweet the Minister, time and location. Let’s out them,” Lucey tweeted.

Driving out of politics for Jim McDaid

2010-11-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

And so departs the colourful and controversial former Fianna Fail TD Dr Jim McDaid.

One political wag was quick to point out on Tuesday morning that McDaid opted to resign because he felt that the Government was ‘driving politics in the wrong direction’!

But credit to Fine Gael Senator Pascal Donohue whose reaction was interesting.

“If Jim McDaid feels so strongly about this Government, why doesn’t he stay in the Dail and vote against the Government?”

BREAKING NEWS - An honest politician!

2010-10-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Has hell frozen over? It seems it has.

There once was a time when anyone connected with Fianna Fail took whatever they were ‘legally’ entitled to - and more - from the State coffers without so much as a blush.

But the times they are a-changing and we are seeing a new breed of Fianna Failer - ones who take nothing and are proud of that fact.

Take a bow Dublin City Cllr Jim O’Callaghan - full time lawyer and younger brother of RTE’s Mother Superior Miriam.

In his latest newsletter, Cllr Jim makes a point of telling his people that they will never be seeing his name in the headlines for claiming outlandish expenses.

“At a time when public funds are so tight, it is important that your public representatives keep you informed of how your money is being spent,” he wrote.

“Politicians cannot expect members of the public to take cuts in their standards of living when politicians claim unnecessary or excessive expenses. The public has a right to know what expenses its representatives receive.”

So, for the record, Cllr Jim said he claimed no expenses for attending conferences and he directed that his conference allowance of €2,500 be transferred to the city council’s budget for housing in his area.

He even refused the free laptop and blackberry phone paid for by the City Council and offered to all councillors.

And to top all of that, he didn’t claim any telephone allowance or travel expenses.

“During the past year I attended every meeting of the City Council, the South East Area Committee, the Arts and Culture Committee and the South East Area Joint Policing Committee.”

“For this I received an annual salary of €16,895.44 and the fixed allowance of €8,525.38 for full attendance at meetings.”

“All payments I receive from the Council are used to run my office, pay for newsletters and to provide a service to those in this area,” he said.

In a hell that has frozen over, it is nice to come across a breath of fresh air!.

Politicians on the run!

2010-10-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all the politicians who went on the run on Monday in the Dublin City Marathon.

Proving that you have to be quick on your feet to have a seat at the Cabinet table, Fianna Fail’s Barry Andrews finished top of the political pile with a very impressive time of three hours 43 minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, Senator Brian O Domhnaill crossed the line and was followed within five minutes by Senator Cecelia Keaveney.

Hats off to Fine Gael’s Damien English and the legendary Jimmy Deenihan who completed the 26.2 mile circuit in four hours 22 minutes.

Others who did their political colours proud were Fine Gael’s Lucinda Creighton (4 hours 44 minutes), Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames (5 hours 35 minutes), Senator Nicky McFadden (7 hours 29 minutes) and Labour Deputy Mary Upton (7 hours 29 minutes).

Two other TDs took part - Fine Gael’s James Reilly and Frank Feighan - however no times were available for them.

And while we are at the congratulations, well done to Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer who had his head shaved at the weekend as part of a successful Guinness World Record breaking effort in Cork all in aid of Cystic Fibrosis.

Kitted out in Leinster House!

2010-10-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

The most politically successful family in Ireland gathered in Leinster House last week to pay tribute to the head of the clan on the occasion on Bridie Kitt’s 90th birthday.

Bridie is the wife of the late TD Michael F. Kitt and is mother of Michael Jnr, Tom and Aine Brady.

All of the extended Kitt family gathered in the restaurant of Leinster House to pay tribute to Bridie, who is looking as fit as a fiddle at the great age of 90.

Even her famous grandson, musician David Kitt, turned up to sing a few songs to mark the occasion.

Among the politicians who dropped by the celebrations to wish Bridie well included Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore and Independent TD Finian McGrath.

Political horror show?

2010-10-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

Halloween is just a few days away and thoughts are turning to what our politicians will be dressing up as when they go trick or treating for a few votes.

As ever, our friends over at politics.ie have been quick off the mark with a few photographic suggestions for some senior politicians.

Eamon Gilmore as Harry Plotter or Bertie Ahern as a Chilean Miner? You judge!!

Oireachtas staffers score an own goal!!

2010-10-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

Some naughty Leinster House staff and members have been downloading soccer matches and using official computers to store music and personal family photographs!

And now the powers that be have ordered them all to wipe all personal photos, videos and music files off their computers for fear they would infringe copyright laws.

A recent audit of IT security of the Houses of the Oireachtas computers revealed that there were over 900,000 image files (photos) and tens of thousands of audio and video files stored on them.

Among the video files found on the computers were extracts from and in some cases whole football matches in South Africa earlier this year or in past sporting events.

Among the thousands of photographs found on the system, many were in folders entitled ‘Holidays Barcelona 2009’, ‘John’s Wedding’, ‘First Communion’ or ‘Mary’s School Sports Day’.

All staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas – including TDs and Senators – were sent an email from the head of the ICT division telling them to remove these files immediately.

The email pointed out that the large number of personal photos, videos and sound files create two risks for the computer systems – they increase the length of time it will take to restore data in the event of a major systems failure and ‘many of them are likely to involve copyright infringements’.

The Audit Committee has directed that all unnecessary material, especially large files such as photos, music and videos, must be deleted from the system.

“Members, their staff and party staff are requested to review all files and software they may have saved in their email accounts, on their computers or on Oireachtas servers and to delete any material which is subject to copyright and for which no copyright licence is held.”

“Oireachtas computer systems, including PCs and laptops issued to members, are corporate systems, and storage of material on those systems is not considered to be personal use.”

Council stance is plain idiotic

2010-10-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Baa humbug – that is what we have to say to the spoilsports at Dublin City Council who have decided to break its association with Guinness’ Arthur’s Day.

And the reason? Because of the Day’s association with alcohol.

If this isn’t a case of political correctness gone haywire, I don’t know what is.

Dublin City Council should be proud of the global success that is Guinness and if the Irish ever needed a reason to celebrate its global success, it is in the form of the national drink Guinness.

But the po-faced powers-that-be in Dublin City Council don’t agree and from here on in, the City Council logo will not appear on any banners promoting Arthur’s Day.

Fine Gael Councillor Eoghan Murphy believes such an attitude will have a detrimental effect on the cultural life of the capital.

“If there is a concern about over indulgent behaviour at such events the answer is not to walk away and wash your hands, but to engage and use your involvement and your influence to ensure that the event is run properly.”

He said the Arthur’s Day celebrations were a huge success for the capital, with bands playing in large and small venues around the city.

“No one is advocating alcohol abuse. But at the same time it’s perfectly acceptable that taking a drink be part of our social and cultural occasions,” he said.

I’ll raise a pint of the plain stuff to Cllr Murphy for his common sense approach on this issue!

Healy Big Row Over Hospital Brewing!

2010-10-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

Down in South Kerry, the claws are out between two powerful political factions as to who is taking the credit for the latest big announcement.

The building of a new 40 bed hospital in Kenmare has long been the goal of the Healy-Rae dynasty and even formed part of Jackie Healy-Rae’s infamous ‘shopping list’ of items he wanted in return for his support.

Well the contract for the hospital is just inches away from being signed but it seems that the Healy-Rae’s were beaten at the post by young buck Fianna Fail Senator Mark Daly, who publicly announced it this week.

According to his press release, the announcement ‘by the Kerry Fianna Fail Senator comes after months of tireless work’.

Oh how the Healy-Raes must have been seething!!

Some would consider it pay back for all the times the Healy-Raes tried – and at times successfully – to claim credit for various projects in South Kerry from the sitting Minister of the day, John O’Donoghue.

O’Donoghue was always a thorn in the Healy-Raes side and they in his.

But now it seems that the Healy-Rae’s have another thorn in their side – this time in the shape of Senator Mark Daly.

Watch out for a run on claims!!

2010-10-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

A group of 11 TDs and Senators are taking part in the Dublin City Marathon this Monday.

And this has just prompted some of the wags around the corridors of power to let loose on the energetic young and older bucks taking part.

“It will be interesting to see if they will claim mileage for it. But the part to watch is the 15 miles limit – you will see them all rush to claim an overnight!”

Garret is looking Great!

2010-10-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

This column was delighted and honoured to meet up with the great Dr Garret FitzGerald earlier this week and is happy to report that the man is sharper than a blade.

At 84 years of age, he looks as good as he did 30-odd years ago.

He has spent the last few months in the US on a mixture of business and pleasure – travelling on the lecture circuit and spending some time with his grandchildren.

And to prove that the great Dr FitzGerald can teach the young ones a bit about stamina, he appeared on Tonight with Vincent Browne just hours after getting off a plane from the US with just two hours sleep on board.

If I can achieve half of that at the age of 60, it will be a miracle!!

Charges Just Don't Hold Water

2010-10-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

€500 per household – that’s how much water charges will bite if they are introduced on a flat rate in the budget.

But Sinn Fein has come out of the traps early to launch a major nationwide campaign to stop these charges saying they are unfair and would hit the low incomes the hardest.

Up to 200,000 leaflets are being delivered to homes across the country by the party to coincide with the launch of a new website – www.nowatercharges.ie.

The Sinn Fein deputy leading the charge is Dublin South Central’s Aengus O Snodaigh.

He knows that clean water is a precious resource that costs money to produce. But his argument is that water charges are not about conservation or about the cost of production.

“The Government’s own figures clearly indicate that the public distribution network is the principle source of waste rather than the householder,” he said.

“Investment in active leak management at that infrastructural level would more than pay for itself.”

He is also quick to point out that Sinn Fein is the only party that is wholeheartedly against the introduction of water charges.

“Labour couldn’t make their mind up on the issue but eventually said they would support it only if metering was involved.”

The new website is seeking to mobilise the public on the issue of water charges.

It offers the public the opportunity to take five simple steps to fight water charges – learn about the campaign in five minutes, join in five seconds, ask five households to sign a petition, urge five people to follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter and get five people to contact Government TDs.

Another FG young cub?

2010-10-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

Another person out of the traps early is Keith Stephens from Ahascragh in Co Galway who claims that he is the youngest person in the race for a Fine Gael seat at the next general election.

Keith is an adviser to MEP Jim Higgins and he is to seek the Fine Gael nomination to contest the general election in the Galway West constituency.

At the tender age of just 24, Keith has been involved with the Fine Gael party in Galway since 2005.

“I am confident that if nominated I can be the vital cog in the wheel in delivering the illusive second seat for Fine Gael which has not happened since the "hey day" of Fine Gael with John Donnellan and Fintan Coogan. My number one objective is to secure a second seat for Fine Gael in Galway West,” the ambitious young man said.

“The only solution to the escalating problem of emigration and youth unemployment is a change of Government.”

“I am sick of saying goodbye to friends and family who come out of University with no future in Ireland but only a boarding pass to Sydney, Montreal, Boston or London.”

“For too long the young people of Galway have not had a voice, rather than complain about the problems facing my generation, I have decided to try and do something about it by putting my name forward for election.”

That’s the spirit of political inclusion and something that other young people should adopt.

Is Dan on Thin Ice?!

2010-10-14T06:55:00.000-07:00

Would the real Dan Boyle please stand up?

The Green Senator may be omnipresent on Twitter and a familiar face to all in Ireland but over in India, there is a slight bit of confusion about who he actually is.

On the Times of India website, there is a small profile of the Green Senator.

All of the information given is 100% correct but the accompanying pictures are those of a professional ice hockey player of the same name!

As one political wag of a different party colour commented: “I suppose Senator Boyle has become accustomed to being frozen out, and is a great man for skating around the issue. He is certainly on very thin ice!!”

Dan may be under serious pressure in Cork South Central, but on the positive side, he is one of the top rated defence players in the Fantasy Hockey rankings!!

Betting on a tough budget

2010-10-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

With nothing likely to escape Brian Lenihan’s axe in the upcoming budget, punters are speculating on the bad news to come.

Paddy Power is offering odds of 1/3 that the high rate of income tax could be increased by as much as 2% or 3%, and 10/11 that the lower rate of income tax will be increased by 1% to help the Government shave €3billion off the national debt.

The usual suspects cigarettes and alcohol are also expected to take a hit with Paddy Power quoting 2/5 that there’ll be an increase in the duty on cigarettes and odds-on at 1/2 that the duty on spirits, beers and wines also go up.

The good news for businesses is corporation tax looks set to remain the same at 1/6.

As well as betting on the impending 2011 Budget, Paddy Power have also revisited the odds on a National Government being formed in response to numerous requests from political punters.

In February 2009 a National Government was available at odds of just 4/1, these odds have now increased to 16/1 for a National Government of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour formed before the next general election and 8/1 it’s formed straight after.

Bertie should stay in the closet!

2010-10-08T05:55:00.000-07:00

Imagine opening your cupboard first thing in the morning and seeing Bertie Ahern’s mug staring back at you? It is enough to put you off food for the day.

But switch on the TV now and that is exactly what you will see thanks to The Bert’s totally ill-advised appearance in an ad for an English tabloid newspaper.

Bertie Ahern is a man lauded by many and hated by many in equal measure. But at the end of the day, he is a former Taoiseach of the land and a man who helped bring final peace to Northern Ireland.

Therefore the sight of him in a downmarket ad to plug his soccer ramblings makes a complete mockery of all the good work he actually did during his tenure at the helm of Ireland Inc.

Can you imagine Bill Clinton taking part in an ad for the National Enquirer? Or Tony Blair taking part in an ad for ‘Private Eye’? Even Nicolas Sarkozy taking part in an ad for ‘Canard Enchaine’? Or Brian Cowen in an ad for Carlsberg?

Give us a break!

Bertie should be concentrating on other issues of a more important nature than flogging his views on soccer.

Sinn Fein’s Aengus O Snodaigh hit the nail on the head this week when he said that Ahern’s venture into TV advertising ‘adds to his already tarnished political reputation’.

Ahern’s decision to take part in this ridiculous ad certainly puts paid to any ambitions be had for the presidency or even the mayoralty of Dublin.

There is a price to be paid for every action and in Bertie’s case, it was a handsome fee on top of his retainer for writing a weekly column.

Add this to his TD’s salary and the massive pension he is entitled to and put in a sprinkling of the tens of thousands he is getting on the public speaking circuit – it is a tidy price alright.

Oh, and we should also mention the free Merc and driver for life, the free mobile phone bills, the free secretarial services…………

PS Bertie, we don’t love ya anymore!

It's good to talk!

2010-10-08T05:49:00.000-07:00

It seems our Government and our senior mandarins certainly like to talk - so much so that they have racked up almost €10m in mobile phone calls over the past three and a half years.

Between all the Government Departments and the Department of the Taoiseach, there are almost 5,000 official mobile phones - meaning the bills for all the hot air are paid out of the taxpayer’s purse.

A bit of careful digging led Fine Gael’s Brian Hayes to figures that show that since 2007, a whopping €9.63m has been paid out on those bills.

The award for the highest phone bills goes to the Department of Agriculture, who with 1,644 official mobile phones has forked out €2.89m in calls since 2007.

Another top talking Department is the Department of Social Protection, which racked up total bills of €1.52m on its 1,056 official mobile phones.

There are departments, however, who have proven to be frugal with their phones and their bills.

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the Department of Defence seem to keep their hot air to themselves.

The Department of the Taoiseach has 79 staff mobiles and they came in at a cost of €515,288 since 2007; Education has 524 phones at a cost of €577,047; Finance has 148 phones at a cost of €264,036; Health has 180 phones at a cost of €553,634 and Transport has 164 phones at a cost of €294,889.

The Department of Justice has 141 phones at a cost of €595,430; Foreign Affairs has 187 mobiles at €492,308 and Environment has 331 phones at a cost of €518,598.

Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has 108 mobiles at a cost of €314,193; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation has 152 phones at a cost of €485,652 and the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs has 109 phones at a total cost of €276,797.

Working on a dream for Dr Dave?

2010-10-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

Former Taoiseach John A. Costello may have been the Reluctant Taoiseach, but there will be nothing reluctant about the crowd of politicians who are set to gather at the Mansion House for the launch of a book about him next Wednesday.

The biography of Costello was penned by RTE’s well-known Political Correspondent David McCullagh who is a bit of a resident expert on John A. Costello, among other things.

This new biography, entitled ‘A Reluctant Taoiseach’, will be Dr Dave’s second book on the great man, his first being in 1998 entitled ‘A Makeshift Majority’.

The book will be launched by another great political stalwart, former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, who at the grand age of 90 is as fit and hearty as ever.

Now that Dr Dave has written the authoritative biography on John A. Costello, he might have time to pen a book on his other passion – Bruce Springsteen!

He has already interviewed the great man and holds a Leinster House record for the number of times he has seen him in concert.

‘Working On A Dream’ would be a suitable title for that tome, methinks!

Well hello Mary Lou!

2010-10-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

Well hello Mary Lou……..!

The Sinn Fein poster girl may be hovering on the sidelines of national and European politics, but that hasn’t stopped her getting her message across.

Mary Lou has become the latest politician to embrace social media and it seems that she has ever angle covered when it comes to communicating with people.

“How we in politics communicate with the media has changed. Facebook, Twitter and Blog’s have all become expected methods of interaction,” she said in a recent missive to journalists.

“For some of us the social media experience has been a little daunting. That said over the last few months I have fought the fear and done it anyway!”

So to poke, tweet or even blogroll Mary Lou, you will find her on Twitter, facebook and her very own blog – www.maryloumcdonald.blogspot.com.

Lightening up the recession.

2010-10-08T05:44:00.000-07:00

There has been too much misery around the country in recent weeks so it is time to lighten up – even if it is for just a few seconds.

Here’s a selection of some of the better recession jokes doing the rounds at the minute:

How many Irish Finance Ministers does it take to change a lightbulb? None. They pay €50 billion for a broken one instead.

“Talked to my bank manager the other day and he said he was going to concentrate on the big issues from now on. He sold me one outside Centra yesterday.”

“The credit crunch has helped me get back on my feet – the car has been repossessed.”

What’s the difference between a pigeon and a banker? A pigeon can still leave a deposit on a BMW.

Politicians Boxing Clever!

2010-10-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Take a bow, Trinity Boys Boxing Club in Donaghmede, for coming up with a novel way to raise much needed funds - getting politicians to punch the living daylights out of each other in the boxing ring!

In a mission that is bound to result in people paying good money to see politicians getting into physical fisti-cuffs as opposed to verbal fisti-cuffs, it will means that up to 600 kids from the city will be able to continue to train in the sport that is now being led in Ireland by world champion Katie Taylor.

So roll up the politicians who are brave enough to take part for a bruising of a different type in the ring.

Fianna Fail will be leading two contestants into the marathon white collar boxing championship on November 26 - Dublin North East representative Averil ‘Left Hook’ Power and TD Darragh ‘Dynamite’ O’Brien.

Labour is feeling lucky with its three boxers - Dublin North Central candidate Aodhan ‘Bonecrusher’ O’Riordain, Fingal Cllr Cian ‘Babyface Assassin’ O’Callaghan and Donaghmede Cllr Killian ‘Hurricane’ Forde.

Fine Gael has two sacrificial lambs - Cllr Neale ‘Merciless’ Richmond and Cllr Alan ‘Count of Monte Fisto’ O’Kelly.

The Greens have just one contestant but she packs a lot of punch - Clontarf activist Donna ‘Lights Out’ Cooney.

None of the politicians have any experience in the boxing ring but have knuckled down to serious training ahead of the event.

The punches that they throw in the political world will be nothing to what they can expect in the boxing ring and they will have their party loyalty and support on the line.

Will Labour thrash Fine Gael? Will Fianna Fail be still standing after the event? Will the Greens even survive? Only time will tell.

Promoted as ‘The Battle of Dublin’, the fundraiser is a very important one for the Dublin Boxing League because its long-term sponsor has had to withdraw for the foreseeable future because of the economic downturn.

For over 50 years, the Dublin Boxing Leagues have given young people the opportunity to have their first competitive contests in the sport. Last year almost 600 kids took part.

Tickets for the box-office event are just €25 each and are available to buy via www.thebattleofdublin.com.

Go on - you know you want to!!

Shedding the Waste

2010-10-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

First they were the pride of Operation Transformation and now our slimmed-down politicians have jumped ship to a new Safefood initiative - Weigh2Live.

Senators David Norris, Phil Prendergast, Jerry Buttimer and Denis O’Donovan and TDs Fergus O’Dowd, Eamon Scanlon, Jimmy Devins, John O’Mahoney, Sean Connick and Aengus O Snodaigh have all signed up to shed some weight and improve their lifestyle.

It shouldn’t be too difficult for the assembled politicians - they are all veterans of Operation Transformation last year which provided some excellent results.

Following the popular RTE show, Fine Gael’s Fergus O’Dowd has morphed into a man half his age while the others are a picture-perfect advertisement for healthy living.

We’ll all be keeping an eye on you!

Leo - on the double!

2010-10-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

One is a young whipper-snapper, hell-bent on shaking up his party despite what other members think - and the other is Fine Gael TD Leo Varadkar.

We couldn’t let this opportunity pass to comment on the huge resemblance between Leo Varadkar and the new leader of the Labour Party in the UK Ed Miliband.

I suppose we will be seeing Miliband in Heat magazine’s ‘Torso of the Week’ soon!! If we do, Leo has to follow!

Trevor - the jolly green giant

2010-10-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

Move over Jamie Oliver, take a hike Gordon Ramsey and get lost Nigella Lawson - there is a new sheriff in town and his name is Deputy Trevor Sargent.

The Green TD has just launched his own website - Trevor’s Kitchen Garden - telling all how he grows his own food and how others can too.

On the site, he posts information and ideas on growing your own food, based mostly on his own experience.

“I have been growing my own food for some years now and find it a great source of pleasure - nourishing for the body, mind and spirit,” he said.

Fair play to you Trevor - you are truly a Green who knows his greens!

Labour - good for the soul and good for the liver!!

2010-09-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Garglegate, the tiddly Taoiseach controversy, the Morning Ireland debacle - call it what you like but it seems the story is refusing to go away, despite the efforts of Brian Cowen.

There is a fine line between ‘unfortunate’ and ‘stupidity’ when it comes to politicians’ behaviour. Cowen started on one side of the line and then tumbled onto the other side.

Labour Senator Dominic Hannigan is a man who likes a drink himself - he says so on his blog.

But he believes there is a time and place for everything.

“I don’t know whether the Taoiseach was hungover or not - I find his jargoned speech hard to understand at the best of times,” he wrote.

“I am more concerned that the whole gang of them were up until 3am on a work night.”

“There is a time and a place for everything. I like a drink myself, but at an event like this, in the full glare of the media, they should have been giving off the air of a Government in charge of its affairs, of a Government that is treating the country’s economic situation with the seriousness that it deserves.”

“Instead they partied. They showed themselves up and in the process have probably damaged the country,” he said.

Indeed Fianna Fail’s shin-dig was a far cry from the Labour think-in at which there was no shortage of tea and coffee.

After a very pleasant meal, there were no sing-songs in the bar (the party members were half afraid the media would do a Simon Cowell on them) and it was early to bed for everyone.

In fact, the two-day Labour beano was good for the soul and good for the liver!!

Wheely good cause for Niall

2010-09-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

One Fianna Fail TD who is feeling pain of a different type this week is Donegal North East’s Niall Blaney.

Thanks to a charity trek on a bike, poor Niall is feeling a little saddle sore. But with over €10,000 in the kitty for charity as a
result, that is certainly easing the pain a bit.

Niall and three of his mates - Damien McCabe, Bernard Harkin and Liam McGettigan - undertook a charity cycle from Mizen Head to Malin Head.

The lads covered 100 miles a day for four days and between them have raised at least €10,000 for the Donegal Hospice and the Buddy Bear Appeal.

“We are all a bit saddle sore,” Blaney admitted to this column.

Simply Mary!

2010-09-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

Is Mary Davis getting some celebrity help for a possible run for the Aras next year?

The Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia chief was in good company in Poland last week for the Special Olympics Europe Summer Games as she was joined by Simply Red crooner Mick Hucknall.

Hucknall performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Games, in which 38 Irish athletes took part.

Mary is certainly making her name not just in Ireland but across the world through her involvement with Special Olympics.

How long will it be for an Irish political party to select her as their nominee for the Presidential Elections next year? Time will soon
tell.

Tweety Pie

2010-09-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

The Fianna Fail drink-in in Galway hasn’t gone away and one person who has benefitted indirectly from it is King of the Tweets Dan Boyle.

Boyle tweeted to his followers on Monday night that he has received 1,000 additional twitter followers in 16 days.

“Suppose I should thank Simon Coveney for that. Thanks Simon.”

Meanwhile, down at the more sober yet pleasant Labour Party think-in in Roscommon, one leading party member was overheard as he was heading for the bar.

“I have a fierce lip on me for a bit of congestion,” he said - a coy reference to Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s insistence that it was congestion and not drink that was the cause of his underpar performance on Morning Ireland.

What's a Taoiseach to do?

2010-09-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

It has been described as a storm in a pint glass but for Taoiseach Brian Cowen, the hangover from the controversy will linger on as part of his legacy.

Cowen, like any other adult in Ireland, is fully entitled to the odd drink (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 etc). And like any other adult, he is entitled to burn the candle at both ends when he gets the chance.

However, the biggest mistake that Cowen made this week was not being vocally prepared for his important interview with Morning Ireland.

Instead of hearing from a man at the top of his game, a man in whose hands our country lies, a man who is normally sharper than a razor - we were left with the Nob Nation version of the Taoiseach.

One backbencher, who spoke to this column on the condition of anonymity, was less than fulsome in his support for the Taoiseach.

"It was embarrassing. I mean, Brian Cowen can hold his drink and he is used to drinking but he should have packed it in earlier."

And that is the nub of the issue - that he went through with an important radio interview with very little sleep and worn out from the night before.

But it didn't take the lads in Dublin's 98FM long to come up with their own version of Brian Cowen's party piece in a little ditty (to the tune of The Galway Girl) entitled 'Galway Drunk Song'!

Here's a little taste of what the lads have come up with:

"So we went down west for an auld think-tank, all day all day all day,
But to be honest with ye lads, we just drank, all day all day all day.
And I ask you friends, what's a Taoiseach to do,
If he can't have a pint or 22"

The full song and video can be viewed on the station's website.

Sean popular with the 'masses!

2010-09-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Just who has been Ireland's greatest Taoiseach? That is the question that has attracted some attention on the popular politics.ie website.

And with over 500 votes in, it seems there is a clear leader at this stage - Sean Lemass with 37.91% of the vote.

Those propping up the rear include WT Cosgrave (14.89%), Garret FitzGerald (9.86%), Eamon de Valera (6.77%), John Bruton (6%), Albert Reynolds (5.22%), Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen (both on 3.87%), Jack Lynch and Charlie Haughey (both on 3.29%) and Liam Cosgrave (2.71%)

Despite his poor showing, I'm sure Brian Cowen will find some solace in the fact that he isn't the most unpopular!!

You can have your say by logging on to www.politics.ie

The Tweetest Thing

2010-09-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

Former Defence Minister Willie O'Dea can breathe a sigh of relief today as Green Senator Dan Boyle silences his tweets!

The twitterific Cork Senator has agreed to stop tweeting for one day in aid of charity.

Asking Dan to stop tweeting for a day is akin to asking Seanie Fitzpatrick to apologize for making a pigs ear of Anglo - nigh on impossible.

But Dan will try his damnedest in an effort to raise awareness and much needed funds for kids living with juvenile arthritis.

Fine Gael keeps the Faith with the Big Fella!

2010-09-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

The management of the Faithlegg Hotel in Waterford were certainly thinking on their feet when the great and the good of the Fine Gael party arrived for it's annual drink-in last week.

It is tough being a politician a lot of the time but when the sun goes down, they are as entitled to a tipple as much as the rest of us are.

So to quench their thirst in Waterford, the Faithlegg made sure it was well stocked with a brand of whiskey that was new to this columnist - the aptly named Michael Collins whiskey!!

Number's up for Hanafin!

2010-09-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations and commiserations to Minister Mary Hanafin on her luck (or her lack of it) at the weekend's People of the Year Awards.

Always one to support a good cause, Minister Hanafin bought a ticket for the raffle which had some great prizes - five must-have iPads and five iPhones to name just some of the goodies.

The Minister is already an iPhone user and had her eye on the new iPad if her number came up.

And her number indeed came up. But instead of a shiny new iPad, the Minister got the iPhone because of the random nature of the way the prizes were being distributed.

"It's still in it's box. I wonder can I exchange it for an iPad," she said of he win.

If she does, she can get a few lessons on how to use it from her Cabinet colleague John Gormley, who is already an accomplished iPadder!

Willie O'Dea's Driving Licence

2010-06-24T03:17:00.000-07:00

It is only a matter of time before Willie O’Dea will be able to drive up to Dublin from his Limerick base unaccompanied – because he has passed the first hurdle to getting his driving licence.

He has passed his theory test!

As the former Minister for Defence told The Star some time ago, he doesn’t have a driving licence as it lapsed during the years that he was a Minister.

The fact that O’Dea was not only a Minister, but a Junior Minister before that, means that he hasn’t had to drive himself anywhere for the bones of 15 years.

After his resignation earlier this year, he said one of his first priorities was to get a driving licence – and a few lessons – to make up for lost time.

The good news is that Willie has passed his theory test for his driving licence and will soon undergo the actual driving test.

Once he has his driving licence, he won’t have to rely on others to drive him up and down from Dublin.

His wife Geraldine does a lot of the driving and he has hitched a lift with his Limerick colleague Niall Collins on a few occasions.

Very soon, Willie will be able to return the favour!

Charlie's World Cup Blog

2010-06-24T03:15:00.000-07:00

One Fianna Fail TD is trying to bring a bit of ‘light relief’ to the serious political debate that has been around for months by writing his own World Cup Blog on the party’s website.

Dublin South West TD Charlie O’Connor has become the Eamon Dunphy of Leinster House with his soon to be regular analysis of all things World Cup related.

His first instalment went up on the Fianna Fail website yesterday and needless to say, the French defeat is his main talking point.

He gives us his views on the behind-the-scenes drama in the Franch soccer camp, the rows with the manager and the rows among the players.

“It’s been utterly bizarre – you really couldn’t make it up,” Charlie O’Connor writes.

“However badly we all felt after being knocked out because of that infamous Thierry Henry handball in Paris last November, the Franch have had more kharma coming their way than the entire series of ‘My Name Is Earl’.”

“They’ve been the story of the World Cup so far and the whole affair will surely leave its mark on French football for some time to come,” the political/sports pundit said.

“I never thought Irish politics would have much of an impact on the World Cup in South Africa, but with all these heaves against leaders going on, Fine Gael have clearly started a trend.”

“I hope Fine Gael have the same kind of future coming their way as that other blue shirted side, the French!”

Urban v Rural myth

2010-06-24T03:12:00.000-07:00

Much has been made of the so-called rural/urban divide within the Fine Gael party but we say – what a load of rubbish.

The so-called cappuccino-drinking brigade who launched the challenge to Enda Kenny’s leadership are no more the intellegentia of the party than Jackie Healy-Rae is Ireland’s next top model.

Denis Naughten is from Roscommon, Fergus O’Dowd from Louth, Simon Coveney from Cork, Olwyn Enright from Laois/Offaly, Billy Timmins from Wicklow, Michael Creed from North Cork and even Richard Bruton is a Meath man.

True – Fine Gael would want to be concentrating on Dublin in order to put on a few seats next time out but the failed coup had nothing to do with Dublin versus the rest of Ireland.

Even looking at the professional and political experience of both sides – neither is better than the other. Both have a raft of teachers, a handful of doctors and even the odd lawyer or two.

So let’s bury the theory that the so-called ‘country and western set’ won the day last week. Kenny and his supporters won the day and maybe taught a few itchy members of the party a lesson or two.

Cheers Sue!

2010-06-24T03:11:00.000-07:00

Leinster House is losing one of its true ladies this week when staffer Sue Hanway bids farewell.

Sue is on first name basis with all politicians as she is the lady who has served them many a pint, many a short, countless cups of tea and delicious toasted sandwiches for the past number of years in the Dail Bar.

No doubt, Sue certainly has a book inside her of all the bits and piece she has seen and heard during her time behind the bar.

But she will be keeping her lips sealed. She is heading to pastures new in the UK.

Cheers, Sue – the very best of luck!

Probably.....the best implosion in the world!

2010-06-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

Carlsberg don’t do political party implosions – but if they did, no doubt they would learn a little something from Fine Gael.

It has been all excitement in Leinster House over the past two days and the only smiles around the corridors of power are on the faces of Fianna Fail TDs.

As Tuesday arrived, all talk was about the Fine Gael front bench meeting at which Camp Bruton was going to stare down Camp Kenny to see who would go cross-eyed first.

As the media gathered along the plinth wondering what was going on, there was plenty of secret shuffling from other party members eager to get the inside scoop on the fate of Fine Gael.

As Bruton’s Gang Of Nine spoke to reporters on the plinth to explain their support for the former Finance spokesman, Fianna Fail’s Noel O’Flynn was lurking in the background giving a running commentary on the proceedings to someone on the end of a phone.

TDs driving in slowed down to see what was happening and to get a handle on which way the wind was blowing. Political staffers were busy texting their masters with the latest word.

Within minutes of the Gang of Nine speaking, it was time for Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin to take to the plinth but for a different reason altogether.

Fine Gael might have its own secret service, but his reason for being there was about another secret service – Mossad, to be precise.

While he said nothing about the implosion of the Fine Gael party, I’m sure the little devil on his shoulder was having a good laugh at the political circus that was playing out around him.

Tuesday was supposed to be ‘Get Cowen’ Day in the Dail but instead it turned into a political pantomime. The man claiming to have no confidence in Cowen actually had a party with little confidence in him.

Last week, the country was up in arms about the banking reports, the week before it was politicians’ expenses. This week is the implosion of the Fine Gael party.

It goes to prove the old adage – a week certainly is a long time in politics.

Cowen's Pride and Joy!

2010-06-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

He may not have an All-Ireland medal, but that didn’t stop Taoiseach Brian Cowen from taking centre stage at Croke Park this week.

The occasion was the presentation of the first synthetic hurley to ever be used to the GAA Museum.

The Cultec hurley, which has been designed ‘to bring consistency to the game’, made history when three of the All-Ireland champs from Offaly’s junior camogie team took to the Croke Park pitch with a Cultec hurley.

And with the mere mention of Co Offaly - the hurleys are also made there - it was no wonder that Cowen hotfooted it down to Croker.

And so he might - it might be the only chance Offaly will get centre stage there again for some time!

“For most followers of Gaelic games, there is nothing to beat the sense of joy and pride felt at seeing one’s own county colours in this hallowed place,” he said.

‘Joy’ and ‘Pride’ - two words that one would not associate with Brian Cowen!

Don't Hold Back Caoimhghin!

2010-06-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

In a week when the blueshirts turned on themselves and on the Government, it was left to Sinn Fein’s Caoimghin O Caolain to survey the mess that has been created on the political front.

“This should have been the week when the spotlight was on an appalling Fianna Fail Government which has been exposed as the principal cause of the recession in Ireland. It is a grossly incompetent Government” he said.

“But instead we have a situation where the pressure has been taken off one set of incompetents - Fianna Fail 0 by the political ineptitude of another set of incompetents - Fine Gael,” he said.

He said with the Fianna Fail Government on the ropes, Fine Gael has managed to deliver a knockout punch - to themselves.

Never one to mince his words is Sinn Fein’s O Caolain!

Dodgy Sports Agents

2010-06-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

First it was the evils of Facebook and now Labour MEP Nessa Childers has set her sights on dodgy sports agents - particularly those involved in football.

As the country goes World Cup crazy (and deaf thanks to those damned vavazelas), Childers has called for new laws governing the conduct of professional sports agents.

She claims that for every ‘Jerry Maguire’ legit sports agent, there is ‘a shady agent lurking in the shadows whose stock-in-trade ranges from match fixing to money laundering to everything else in between’.

She wants an end to these dodgy agents targeting vulnerable young players - and rightly so.

She has called on the EU to step in to show the red card to these chancers.