Niamh Walsh’s Manifesto
If only our politicians had the good grace of Tony
‘GROSSLY insulted’, ‘disrespectful’, ‘bitterly disappointing’ and ‘no justification’ are some of the astonishing utterances from elected public servants this week in what was a despicable show of egotistical entitlement after they turned down, or were not offered, plum Government positions that came with a €40k pay rise.
My blood boiled when, one after the other, they refused to step up and carry out the civic service that they were pledged to perform.
Fianna Fáil Cork North-West TD Michael Moynihan said he was ‘grossly insulted’ at not getting a junior ministerial role and accused Taoiseach Micheál Martin of ‘disrespecting him and his community’.
His colleague Jim O’Callaghan felt snubbed by the offer of high office said ‘his abilities and energies would be better utilised as a backbench TD and would focus on strengthening the Fianna Fáil party’. Et tu, Brute.
Former education minister Joe McHugh turned down a junior ministerial position while Michael Ring of Mayo took a political fit of pique after being passed over.
Well listen up Jimbo and Co, the voters didn’t elect you to ‘rebuild your own party’ or to place your own ego over national interest.
These self-serving lot should hang their heads in shame at the stark contrast between their unpalatable conduct and the utter dignity of Dr Tony Holohan, who this week announced he was taking time out to care for his wife Emer Feely, who is in palliative care.
Dr Holohan united the vast majority of the country with his clear and consistent advice, sometimes facing a barrage of attacks. He carried the weight of the coronavirus crisis on shoulders already laden down with his own personal pain.
Dr Holohan has the wellbeing of his country coursing through his veins and he deserves our greatest respect. The contrast between his patriotism and the self-serving elitism of some of our politicians couldn’t be more marked.
Democracy denied? Just look abroad!
RUSSIAN president Vladamir Putin this week orchestrated a personal coup d’état in the form of a seven-day plebiscite that could see him remain as de facto leader for another 16 years.
On the same day, China enacted sweeping new laws that trounced all over the democratic freedoms and fundamental human rights of the people of Hong Kong. The Communist Party of China will now punish anyone found guilty of secession, subversion and terrorism in Hong Kong, with sentences of life in prison under the territory’s new national security law. Even something like disrupting public transport will be seen as an overt act of terrorism and punishable by life in prison.
Meanwhile, back home there was indignant anger from some quarters – actually just from the hard left – at ‘collusion’ by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to subvert democracy and keep Sinn Féin out of power. The political penny still hasn’t dropped that while 25% of Irish people voted for SF, a whopping 75% did not.
Until Micheál Martin sneaks a ‘Fianna Fáil forever’ amendment into Bunreacht na hÉireann, or Leo Varadkar introduces internment on the Aran Islands for the criminal act of bunking on a bus, only then let us then have a national conversation about democracy denied.
Knives out! Dining days are here again
ALL dressed up and finally with somewhere to go, this week I went to see some very dear friends as they took their first, tentative steps to reopening their business. I was excited and hungry, not so much for food but ravenous for the occasion, as I pitched up at l’Ecrivain on Baggot Street to dine in style. Just as in good old, preCovid-19 times, I was greeted by my good friend Sallyanne Clarke, whose famous beaming smile was still as bright despite being obscured slightly under her visor. After checking our temperature, we took our seats and got a big old familiar wave from chef Derry who was cooking up his usual storm in his socially-distanced kitchen. The rest of the room was full with equally excited patrons, some of whom were already tucking in behind very discreet screens.
Raising a glass we toasted the Clarkes who, like many other businesses, were finally back open, and it was also a treat that our dining experience was no different than before. I couldn’t help but think that the new floor signs that led us to our table while small in distance were big steps on the road to our new normal, which was not really new, just the same food, glorious, food.
Ghislaine arrest is no sweat for Andrew
THE apprehension of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is sure to elicit shockwaves throughout the worlds of the rich, powerful and political.
And there have been unconfirmed leaks that the former girlfriend of billionaire financier and sexoffender Jeffery Epstein, is set to sing like a canary and divulge the names and lurid lives of the many men whose dirty secrets she is prepared to use as a bargaining chip.
While those implicated are sure to be sweating after the news of Maxwell’s arrest, Prince Andrew, the highest on the hook, is at least spared this indignity given his astonishing revelation that a curious condition renders him perspiration proof.
Red mist descended on my devilish dad
LAST week this column came in for very harsh criticism from the most unexpected of quarters.
On Sunday afternoon after reading the paper, my father turned to me, looking wounded as I have never seen before, and said: ‘You’re no longer my favourite daughter’. Considering I am his only daughter you can imagine how deeply his criticism cut.
‘Jurgen-bloody-Klopp,’ he said sternly, ‘Liver-BLOODY-pool’, he said even louder, followed by ‘Redbloody–...’ You get the point. As a lifelong Man Utd fan my father was kicked to his soccer core that I would show my support for his footballing foe.
So to my shame, I must issue a retraction for the dissemination of fake news that Jurgen Klopp and Liver-bloody-pool are to be admired.