Simon & Brexit fiascos make my blood boil
It may be because I have just spent a month in St James’s Hospital that health is on my mind but if there was a machine to measure the sentiment of my blood, it would be certified as boiling. The cause of this malady is right beside me, the site of the now infamous Children’s Hospital. How in God’s name did Minister Harris allow this to happen?
It is simply staggering that the most significant capital project since the crash was allowed to develop like a runaway train on his watch.
There is now a vigorous debate as to when he knew of the escalating cost but this ignores the central point that he should have inquired in detail into what was happening as soon as he was appointed.
This was the most dramatic public project on the horizon. Anybody with an ounce of sense in his position should want to see the project run smoothly.
Frankly, we do not need to wait for the PWC report to conclude that if the minister had any sense of honour he should resign. If it were not for Micheal Martin’s decision to place Fianna Fail in a state of neutrality because of brexit, they would have no choice but to ask for the minister’s head.
Observing this farce unfold I would have to say Fianna Fail health spokesman Stephen Donnelly has displayed a far greater grasp of his brief than the hapless Harris.
Labour leader brendan Howlin, a former Minister for
Public Expenditure and Reform, also shows an excellent grasp of the issues at hand.
Lying in my hospital bed
I have started to fantasise about an alternative government. How about a
Fianna Fail/labour coalition? The fact I have forgiven
Fianna Fail for its past sins shows how Fine Gael has squandered its reputation for fiscal prudence.
Then sitting in St James’s you cannot escape the other issue that is dominating the political landscape and that is the nurses’ strike.
Whether or not you feel the Government should meet the medics’ demands, one thing is clear – if the strike continues the health service will effectively collapse and there will be casualties.
I listen very carefully to what I hear, and again my blood is boiling. Surely to God the two sides must get around the table and talk.
The ministers concerned keep waffling on about parties engaging with the existing structures but just occasionally it is required for the minister to intervene. This is such a case.
Now finally to brexit. The robotic british PM dashes around Europe trying to rewrite her deal.
Our Government looks on in horror as all concerned seem to be sleepwalking into the UK crashing out of the EU.
What makes my blood boil here is the lack of imagination involved.
The backstop was always going to be a problem.
For God’s sake, bring back that EU speciality, a fudge.