SMOKES & DAGGERS
A mischievous mix of political asides with JOHN DRENNAN
OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan and OPW staff proudly announced the reopening of the St Stephen’s Green bandstand this week.
Humble media members were even invited for a photograph or interview opportunity and some festive carol songs.
The OPW press release somewhat vaingloriously warned: ‘Registration is required, and attendance is not guaranteed.’
One Dáil source dryly observed: ‘That’s Patrick for you – no job is too small.’
PUBLIC Expenditure minister Paschal Donohoe is being compared to Wile E Coyote by somewhat suspicious colleagues.
In the reference to the elaborate constructs created by the cartoon, one suspicious source noted: ‘Between the Euro-group Presidency and the special relationship with Janet Yellen [US Treasury Secretary] if Paschal isn’t terribly careful he will get that IMF job against his will.’
TDS and Senators endured a battle of conscience last week as they tried to juggle ethics with the free food and drink that was on offer in the US embassy.
Alas, Leo did not improve matters with the observation that TDs and Senators are free to ‘make up their own minds’ on such affairs.
One TD bemoaned: ‘Freedom to make up my own mind: that’s the last thing I need.’
THE Greenies are still believed to be recovering from the horror occasioned by the arrival of Richard O’Donoghue: joint leader of The Comfortable Party, on a scooter.
Alas, there is hardly a need to say that the offending vehicle wasn’t one of those nice electric ones.
Instead, we were proudly informed by the Limerick County TD that it was a 1960s scooter petrol bicycle.
O’Donoghue did express a willingness to change but owing to the absence of electric charge points… well it’s over to you Eamon.