‘YOU’RE SO VAIN...’ REGINA ROASTS MURPHY AT FG DINNER
HOUSING Minister Eoghan Murphy asked for more mirrors in his Department, as part of budget negotiations...
Or so Regina Doherty joked during an American-style ‘roast’ speech at a Fine Gael dinner.
Hundreds of party members joined Leo Varadkar at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin, for the annual ‘presidential dinner’ on Saturday. While professional entertainment was laid on, it was Social Protection Minister Doherty who stole the show.
In her introductory speech, she poked fun at the immaculately groomed Minister Murphy, and then launched into Fianna Fáil.
Last week, she called the party ‘untrustworthy’. Willie O’Dea subsequently asked her to retract her remarks. Instead, on Saturday, she lampooned him and fellow Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen. ‘I’d like to let you know that the water on your table is complimentary. Actually, I just got a text from Barry Cowen, there will actually be a charge for the water,’ she said.
‘Oh no wait, he’s texted again, actually it’s free. Hang on, he says now there is a charge for your water. But he’s texted again. Oh for goodness’ sake, the water is now free – all right, that’s a decision.’
She continued: ‘I’d far prefer a bottle of Willie O’Dea wine... After a few glasses of Willie O’Dea wine you’d remember stuff that never happened, and forget the stuff that did.’
She also used the occasion to joke about the Strategic Communications Unit being set up by Leo Varadkar, at a cost of €5million.
‘I don’t think anyone here is in any doubt that we’re in the presence of a great Irish political leader... And that’s the truth, not just the words of the Strategic Communications Unit.’
Mr Varadkar also joined in the ‘slagging’, criticising the Opposition for claiming Budget 2018 was worth less than a cup of coffee.
‘I’d advise these latte socialists to think again about where they buy their coffee. If you can’t be trusted to spend your own money carefully, how can you be trusted with other people’s?’ he said.
SOCIAL Protection Minister Regina Doherty gave a ‘roast’-style speech at a Fine Gael dinner on Saturday, during which she slagged TDs Eoghan Murphy and Willie O’Dea. No doubt the gaffe-prone Cabinet minister was happy to not be on the receiving end of the critique for once.