SMOKES & DAGGERS

A mischievous mix of (mostly) news

SMOKES is distressed to hear relations are tense between church and state on more issues than abortion. In one troubled constituency a priest has taken to including a plea in his prayers to the faithful that our public representatives might make sure not to forget the importance of local issues. The resident minister was not happy to be poked in the back by a constituent’s cane and told: ‘That’s you he’s talking about.’ LEO VARADKAR has declined an appeal by independent senator Gerard Craughwell to be given Fine Gael support for his quixotic bid for the presidency. Before Christmas, the senator, pictured, who is the only declared candidate for the presidency, wrote to all party leaders requesting that they allow their public representatives to support Mr Craughwell in seeking a nomination to run. Currently, presidential candidates need the support of 20 Oireachtas members or four councils before they can become a candidate. But at least Leo responded. So far he is the only leader to have responded. MUCH interest among Disclosures Tribunal connoisseurs is focused on the likely evidence of Fine Gael councillor William Lavelle. The little-known Lavelle, who shares a constituency with Ms Fitzgerald, was an adviser to the tánaiste during the time when Frances was busy not seeing emails. But then he departed abruptly, and the reasons for that departure remain unclear. One source said: ‘Apparently both Leo and Frances are praying the mystery man’s appearance will not be a case of “Lavelle man sans merci”.’ INTIMATIONS from MEP Seán Kelly, pictured, that he would be honoured if chosen by Fine Gael to run for the presidency, have not been warmly received by his colleagues. A source grumbled: ‘The fellow we rejected in favour of Gay Mitchell… my God, we really are drowning in talent.’