Ross REALLY wanted to be at Grand Slam homecoming
Minister prepared to cancel prior gigs, reveals adviser
HE MAY struggle to get the players’ names right but Shane Ross is no pushover when it comes to the amount of taxpayer resources he will throw at getting in on the act when Ireland win rugby’s Grand Slam.
Even before the game was played, State officials were given the task of ensuring the Sports Minister would be present at any homecoming celebrations, though it might mean disappointing our international soccer chaps.
Internal emails show the preparations for the photo-up involved as many as 14 officials in his department, and four more in the Dublin Airport Authority.
In the days leading up to the St Patrick’s Day triumph, Mr Ross even told staff he would be more than happy to rejig his existing appointments. But Freedom of Information documents show Mr Ross already had two appointments for the day the team arrived home – a road safety event and the annual soccer awards, attended by Ireland’s international elite.
Preparations for the minister to greet the team began on Monday March 12, five days before the match:
÷ At 2.26pm an official explained in an email, marked confidential: ‘If GS [Grand Slam] has been won, then they will be heading to a free public reception at the Aviva. If this goes ahead, tickets will go on sale [free] on Saturday… opportunities for the minister are therefore available at the airport and at the reception. If GS has not been won, then there will be no reception and the team will head to a private dinner in town. Again, the minister is welcome to come to congratulate the team on winning the Six Nations Championship.’
÷ At 2.58pm, two minutes later, a senior official said the minister might attend both events, adding: ‘He would be glad of an opportunity to greet the team at Dublin
‘You will appreciate that this is confidential’
Airport … [but] he may only do the Airport event, depending on other commitments on the day.’ But they then realised he was already booked for an international road safety conference in Mullingar at 3pm and the Three International Football Awards at 6pm.
÷ At 3.19pm, 21 minutes later, the minister’s special adviser Aisling Dunne was on the case. She emailed that the minister was ‘willing to change the time perhaps on one or other of his commitments to make that possible’. (In the end, he attended both events).
÷ At 3.40pm, another 21 minutes later, an official emailed the Dublin Airport Authority: ‘Should the Irish rugby team win the Grand Slam on Saturday – there is a possibility that the minister will go to Dublin Airport to meet the team on their return home... you will appreciate that this is confidential.’
÷ At 4.11pm, 31 minutes later, a senior official was looking for something more formal. The email said: ‘Could you put a call in and let [them] know of minister’s interest in an appropriate and short reception at which minister would receive the team in his capacity as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, and congratulate them on behalf of the Government.’
÷ At 4.34pm, 23 minutes later, the official was told in reply – following the call to the DAA – that the team, Grand Slam permitting, would be given a ‘ramp transfer’ at Dublin Airport, going direct from the plane to a bus before moving on to a reception. ‘If they don’t win the Grand Slam they will exit the airport in the normal way – possibly through the VIP,’ it said.
÷ At 4.56pm, 22 minutes later, a follow-up email said the minister would like to be either at the ‘relevant venue or Dublin Airport VIP exit (or possibly both)’.
Eventually, Ireland won the Grand Slam and Mr Ross got his wish and met the team at the Shelbourne Hotel, but only after the big public event was cancelled due to a heavy snow that day in Dublin. He was even photographed while waving the Six Nations trophy in the air alongside team captain Rory Best.
But then came his embarrassing Twitter faux pas, when he misidentified Rob Kearney as his brother, and fellow Leinster back, Dave. Rob Kearney took it all in his stride and tweeted back: ‘Thanks Leo.’
Asked for a comment this week, a spokesman said: ‘The minister was completing his duties as Government representative and previously used Dublin Airport so suggested that again; that wasn’t feasible so he met the team at the hotel and completed both his other diary commitments.’