SMOKES & DAGGERS
A mischievous mix of political asides with JOHN DRENNAN
SENATORS who will be returning from their Christmas break next week are believed to be in a state of uproar about having to start on Monday, rather than the usual Wednesday post-recess return. One grinning Government apparatchik mischievously explained that it’s the senators’ reward for grousing so much about the length of their break before Christmas. Be careful what you wish for.
THE Monday sitting of Seanad Éireann will witness a piece of history with the last appearance of Senator David Norris – a man who has generously filled both the official record, and these column inches, over the years. If all political careers end in failure, then his is the exception that proves the rule.
THAT plaudit given, Norris’s departure allows for the delight of a political spat over his replacement. Apparently the Greens believe it is their turn to be the beneficiaries of the Coalition majority; the female caucus are citing gender balance; the North believes it is entitled to a token; while Independent senators believe that the morally right thing to do would be to replace Mr Norris with – ahem – another Independent. Only one decision has been made though. ‘The Greens are getting nothing,’ cackled one spin doctor.
BON mot of the week goes to Dave O’Connell, editor of the Connacht Tribune. During a Media Committee debate on Artificial Intelligence, he observed, to the puzzlement of some urban TDs: ‘Our AI content is limited to the farming page and has a slightly different context.’
COMMENTING on the slightly greyer hair recently of Fine Gael’s boy wonder, Minister Simon Harris, one Dáil observer remarked: ‘It’s a leadership move. He’s dyeing his hair grey to look older than he appears to be.’