Irish Daily Mirror

Secrecy on Aras costs takes Mick

- LORD HENRY

This week it was all about the weather and damn dangerous it was too. It ripped trees apart and two enormous branches came crashing down on our driveway. Thank God nobody was underneath.

My son, taking my grandchild­ren to school, encountere­d part of a farm shed on a road.

Listening on the radio about the chaos inflicted on the Ploughing Championsh­ip made me think about another storm that received publicity this week. It was a solar storm in 1859 and called the Carrington Event.

Earth is due another one and when we get hit it will bring a whole new meaning to chaos.

The consequenc­es of such an event in our 21st century world are hard to contemplat­e.

Getting back to the ploughing contest brings me to the race for the Aras. Michael D and the Dragons were there trying to whip up support. The President in his tweeds and Gavin Duffy sporting a pair of leather boots.

On the drive home from hospital I was listening to the radio as we went through the Phoenix Park and the PAC decision to look into the expenses of the President was up for discussion.

Investigat­ing the matter is unconstitu­tional say some.

Bringing it up as the poll is about to kick off is inappropri­ate.

Even Aras candidate Senator Joan Freeman said “desist” on the Tonight Show.

The President should open the books. It is quite simply balderdash to argue that opening them now is inappropri­ate.

This is exactly the time to do so and have proper debate on the issue.

Aren’t we supposed to be living in an era of transparen­cy and accountabi­lity?

The President is our Head of State. He is the highest paid of our elected representa­tives. He is funded by us the taxpayer. He is supposed to lead by example.

Surely Michael D’s expenses, like Trump’s tax return, should be made available for all to see.

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 ??  ?? BLOWN OFF TRACK Marquee at Ploughing Championsh­ips
BLOWN OFF TRACK Marquee at Ploughing Championsh­ips

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