Big quixotic quest to save all the world

ADMITTEDLY, it appears to have been John Halligan’s original idea. But the bad news for him is that he must play Sancho Panza, because everyone knows that Shane Ross has to be Don Quixote, leading this Irish political tilt against North Korea’s nuclear windmills in a courtly quest for world peace.

In fact, it will be no harm at all if the jolly trio is completed by the fellow political star Finian McGrath. He takes the role of ‘second squire’, with a stage name, if any, yet to be agreed.

It’s time we did our own update on Miguel de Cervantes’s 17th century epic tale of adventure and virtue. Yes, we have now entered the realms of the politically surreal, with the Waterford Independent Alliance junior minister proposing his very own peace mission to Pyongyang.

Banish thoughts of Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon’s overtures to China. Forget U Thant and his decade of UN labours for peace, and move over Pope Francis.

We have our very own recipe to save the entire planet from what Mr Halligan perceives to be the biggest threat to its very existence.

Just ignore those snoots and spoilsports in the Foreign Affairs Department with their arguments about Ireland needing to be in tow with agreed European Union positions in trifles like this. Surely, this opportunity for world peace is too good.

Never mind the railway unions nitpicking about Shane Ross’s potential absence during their dispute. Sure, he can do nothing from North Korea as well as any place else.