SMOKES & DAGGERS
A mischievous mix of political asides with JOHN DRENNAN
COP27 was not all it might have appeared, according to one member of the returned 55strong Irish delegation.
Of the four-star accommodation in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, they whined: ‘There was nothing to eat and drink but sandwiches and water. The water cost €18 a bottle and by the end of the week that ran out and the sandwiches ran out and all that was left was pastries. Worse still, the place was full of partying Russians and Ukrainians who holiday there. They all spent the day drinking vodka then the fighting started at about one.’
LABOUR TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin was chuffed last week when an 11-year-old approached him in the Dáil corridor and asked for his autograph. The smile faded when the autograph hunter declared: ‘I do so admire your work, Minister Ryan’.
WE hear the Independent Dáil Technical Group is considering asking political divorcee Marc McSharry to join. This would have the happy consequence of allowing Marc to question Taoiseach Martin, well, until he hands over the reins.
QUITE the furore has evolved over the decision of the Ceann Comhairle to book the Leinster House private dining area on Wednesday week for a function. The Fine Gael parliamentary party usually adjourns there after its meeting and this would be the last social opportunity for those seeking preferment in the reshuffle to have a word in Leo’s ear. The ambitious are not happy.
APPARENTLY,
the first task of Heather Humphreys in her babysitting of the Department of Justice will be to announce a new batch of Garda recruits. If only all days in Justice were like that.
ÉAMON Ó CUíV summed up the contrasting fates of Micheál and Leo observing that ‘Leo was in purgatory being Tánaiste for the last two years but he knew heaven was coming. Micheál has been in heaven, but he knows purgatory is coming.’