Niamh Walsh’s Manifesto
We need to be drinking less, not more Leo
ON CHRISTMAS Day nearly 800 children rang Childline telling the charity they were feeling distressed because of anxiety, grief, loneliness and substance abuse in their homes. On the same day that sobbing children were forced to seek solace with strangers because of distress caused by substance abuse in the home, it was reported that our Taoiseach was working on reforming our ‘archaic’ licensing laws to allow people to drink merrier – and for longer.
And he let it slip that junior minister Josepha Madigan was busy working on ‘night mayors’ to oversee this 24/7 partying.
At the same time as Leo was spouting this insensitive ill-judged nonsense, his ministerial colleague Simon Harris was writing to the media reminding them that Ireland is the fourth heaviest drinking nation in the OECD, with more than half of adult drinkers classified as harmful drinkers.
We should be gobsmacked that a more liberal licensing regime ranks so highly on its agenda, but it’s really the low bar we have come to expect from this out-of-touch Government.
If the Taoiseach wants to know what is really archaic, he need look no further than our health system where the elderly lie on hospital trolleys for days. Or the Dickensian state of our housing where people are forced to share beds in overcrowded slum tenements because rents have skyrocketed.
Crime gangs have taken control of swathes of our cities like something out of the Wild West and our animal welfare laws, particularly when it comes to blood sports, are totally at odds with current attitudes.
In Leo’s opinion, Ireland should be more European, like Spain or Germany, and legislate for allners?’ night drinking. I lived in Spain for more than a decade so, unlike Leo, I know what I am talking about. Spain – and Italy for that matter – have an entirely different cultural and social attitude to drink. Spanish people work later therefore they start socialising later. There are a few social glasses of vino to complement the meal, and food is not seen as ‘soakage’ to allow people to drink more. So, unless Leo is planning a radical cultural shift, his comparison with mainland Europe is off the wall.
But given his fondness for our European counterparts I imagine there won’t be many objections should he take a career move to Europe. I’m sure he will be in his element socialising with the Euro elite and his recently departed parliamentary colleagues can show him the local late bars in Brussels.
Ross can get stuffed at the election
TRANSPORT Minister Shane Ross seemingly thinks that the shambles that is the FAI is something to hold in jest.
This week, Ross posted a picture to his Twitter account holding a massive cooked goose with the caption: ‘Who cooked my goose? The FAI? The Judges? The VintThe fact that Shane Ross thinks that staff at the FAI, who are facing a very bleak and uncertain new year with job losses inevitable, are something to laugh about is more than in bad taste, it’s insulting and idiotic.
As could have been expected by anyone with an ounce of intelligence, Ross’s goose gaffe was met with universal disgust and anger with many calling for his head.
So while his goose may not yet be cooked and he is for now still sure of his job and hefty paycheck, Minister Ross may well find himself well and truly stuffed at the next election.
Bloggers’ freebies are just crackers
SHOPPING and consumerism have sapped the spirit from Christmas. From grown women coming to near-physical blows in toy store Hamleys, to the barrage of ads, even on Christmas Day, and the length of queues for the sales, there is no let-up to the commercialism that’s threatening to overwhelm our Christmas celebrations.
What do all those mummy bloggers snowed under with free ‘gifts’ to promote on social media do with the goodies? Apart from inform their followers if they were free as they are now obliged to do. Christmas is not just about giving children what they want, it’s about the sacrifices and effort that parents make for their loved ones. I remember one year I wanted a very particular type of pram and, after much searching, my parents eventually resorted to a Christmas Eve dash up North to source my pressie.
In those days a trip to Northern Ireland involved a whole day’s driving, border checks, currency change, the inevitable loss of direction... Yet, off they went and returned like battle weary heroes with my perfect pram.
It is a story my mother never tires of telling me.
Somehow regaling your child in years to come with a tale of receiving an expensive freebie PR present, hiding the gift in the house then working out how to promote it on social media where you are now legally bound to admit it was a promotional gift rather than a Santa surprise, is not the kind of loving memory your children will want to acknowledge in later life.
Live every day like it’s your last
THIS year we sadly said goodbye to some of our greatest friends. Gay Byrne will never be forgotten, nor will entertainer Brendan Grace who took his last bow in what was a life most filled with music, laughter and joy. Then, very poignantly, came the news that George Michael’s sister Melanie Panayiotou was found dead at her home on Christmas Day, three years to the day since the singer’s death.
Just days before her death, 55-year-old Panayiotou had issued a Christmas message alongside her older sister and their father, Jack, saying they had come to ‘fully appreciate (although we already knew really), quite how much love there is out there in the world, for both Yog [Michael’s nickname] and his beautiful music.’
The message ended by urging people to be kind and continue George’s good deeds, not forgetting to send messages of love to those closest to them.
So, if you make only one resolution this year, let it simply be this: be kind, do better, and love those around you, because you never know when it will be your Last Christmas.