dsmooney

When you have a government determined to drive away support…

May 29, 2023May 31, 2023 by dsmooney, posted in Defence, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Leo Varadkar, Micheal Martin, Triple Lock

Welcome to my first column and podcast in several weeks. Apologies for the delay. This column is also available as a podcast via Spotify

*From Google Maps – Schuman roundabout in Brussels (rond-point Schuman), site of several EU offices)*

It has been a few weeks since I last produced a column or podcast. This lull has not been due to any lack of material. Far from it. There has been enough political activity over the past two months for several columns.

So why the dwindling output, you ask?

Well, it is indirectly related to the late great Jeffrey Bernard. Regular readers and listeners will know that I am a bit of a fan of Bernard… and regularly pepper my output with his bon mots.

Continue reading “When you have a government determined to drive away support…” →

The Irish Sunday newspaper #frontpages (for May 28th)

May 27, 2023May 28, 2023 by dsmooney, posted in frontpages, Politics

I was on @TodaywithClaire earlier today quoting the Sean Lemass observation that Fine Gael is basically just a rumour factory

May 25, 2023 by dsmooney, posted in Politics

I was on RTÉ Radio One’s Today with Claire Byrne discussing the political trap set by Fine Gael… sorry… what am I saying? I of course mean the very public lobbying by a trio FG junior ministers on how the budget surplus should be spent.

Derek Mooney on Today with Claire Byrne RTÉ Radio One – May 25 – at 10.00am

I followed a very measured and constructive contribution from @JMcGuinnessTD and opened with my favourite Sean Lemass quote that

At its heart Fine Gael is nothing more than a rumour factory

I also reminded listeners of the “no surprises” clause which both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agreed in the Confidence and Supply Agreement that kept Fine Gael in office (far longer than it should)… and that this no surpises is the very lowest level of trust which governmenmt parties should reasonably expect from fellow ministers and junior ministers… even junior ministers auditioning to be Ireland’s Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng