SMOKES & DAGGERS

A mischievous mix of political asides with JOHN DRENNAN

MUCH interest surrounds the ‘private’ critiques of former close Leo acolytes John Paul Phelan and Eoghan Murphy, pictured, of Micheál and the Government. One senior FG source said: ‘JP and Murph might look as if they are rebels but more than a hint of their master’s real voice surrounds their views.’ Surely such intrigue, though, is beyond the Tánaiste?

IN A touching display of innocence, Seán Sherlock asked the Finance Minister if employees at the Revenue Commissioners are considered an essential service to allow parents to avail of childcare. Needless to say, Paschal was indeed informed that, after an investigation, Revenue decided it carries out ‘essential services’ in a wide, wide area. The list of things that are certain in life now reads: Taxes, death and childcare.

SIMON COVENEY recently noted, in response to queries by Seán Sherlock about his St Patrick’s Day plans, that in 2019 we visited 116 cities across 56 countries to promote Ireland and Irish business. Did Smokes detect more than a hint of ‘À la recherche du St Patrick’s Day perdu’-style emotion infusing the final sigh of how this time ‘it will be very different’. The sacrifices in this pandemic are real.

SMOKES is grateful to Eamon ‘Sleepy’ Ryan for reminding us, in a response to queries from Cian O’Callaghan on the Coalition’s permanent communications crisis, that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to improve engagement with all citizens on topics of national importance. Thank heavens for that. Just imagine how things would be if it wasn’t committed to such engagement.