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Give a thought to the poor members of Nphet, many of them drawn from the groves of Academe or harvested from the highest echelons of the HSE and Civil Service. They can be wonderful for predicting medical outcomes or interrogating a spreadsheet, but they might not be as familiar with the cut and push, or leak and counter, of frontline politics.
Some of the more protected eggheads have been quite surprised to find that their recommendations appear in the newspapers and in commentators who discuss their deliberations before they are made public. Then they find themselves at the center of aggressive government counter-reporting and it’s just not pleasant at all.
What to do? In an effort to flatten the leaky curve, efforts have focused on thinking outside of smallpox.
After a reprimand this week from Assistant Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronan Glynn about the number of times “Nphet sources” are cited in the media, we heard a team member suggest a pioneering cure in an effort to reverse the trend. .
How about entering into an entente cordiale with the press? How about asking journalists to agree, in the national interest, to have nothing to do with leaks? How about asking the pirates to turn their nose up at any morsel that falls from the Nphet table?
To bless.
And the hiccups about properly filtered leaks.
The experts continued their meeting and agreed on the letter they would send to the Government recommending escalation to Level 5 restrictions.
The next morning, the full details of the letter, signed by canonized medical officer Tony Holohan, appeared on the front page of the Irish Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, on Friday afternoon, Fine Gael backbencher Alan Farrell twisted the knife with a provocative little tweet that he likely came up with of his own free will.
“It appears that Nphet is briefing the media again ahead of his main role of advising the Cabinet, which raises speculation and concern. If this leak continues, questions should be asked as to whether the body is fit for purpose in its current form. “
Of course, asking Nphet questions means diverting attention from asking questions of the government, a situation that always goes well on Merrion Street. The government ignored a similar request two weeks ago for an immediate move to Level 5. Will it get away with it this time?
A nation nervously awaits the next leak.
Marking the beginning of a special moment
There was a pleasant moment before the start of the budget speeches on Tuesday when the Ceann Comhairle said it was a very special occasion for two reasons: it was the first time a budget had been delivered outside the August environs of Leinster House and it was also the last acting Dáil of head usher Colm O’Rourke, who retired after 14 years of excellent service at the Houses of the Oireachtas.
“Everyone will agree that Colm has provided outstanding, distinguished and excellent service,” said Sean Ó Feargháil to applause from politicians and staff in the Conference Center auditorium. Members of the Oireachtas press gallery were among those applauding.
The ushers keep Leinster House running smoothly and are unfailingly courteous to all manner of demands from the ever-present little cohort of politicians and manipulators who think they own the place.
“We will miss him very much. His will be a very difficult act to follow and we wish him and his wife, Blaithín, many years of happy retirement together ”.
Unladylike behavior
A senator said a bold word in the Upper House on Friday afternoon, completely ignoring the manly blushes of the sensitive Cathaoirleach who was quite taken aback by her experience (bravely endured).
Sharon Keogan, the independent senator from Meath, spoke on the Agenda about the EU’s air travel policy. He said the country needed to reopen for business to flourish and that if people were unable to travel in and out of Ireland we would be alienated from the rest of the EU after Brexit.
“So we don’t want to be a pain in the butt of Europe,” Sharon stated, unaware that Mark Daly was having a fume attack in the saddle.
He had to intervene.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Senator,” Mark gasped.
“Oh sorry, can’t I use that word? Oh I’m sorry. Excuse me, ”Sharon was nervous, but tried to resume her speech.
But Cathaoirleach seemed determined to tell her where she had gone wrong, so she stopped and started to apologize again. “I’m sorry. Oh, I beg your pardon. I’m so sorry….”
Mark explained: “I appreciate your use of terminology, it is not parliamentary, it is all I am saying.”
Sharon apologized profusely. Over and over again, to the increasing amusement of his colleagues.
“You’re great,” Mark conceded, but he couldn’t leave it at that. “It’s a bit feminine.”
That’s what he said. “Vulgar.” But just a little bit, to be fair. He wasn’t calling Sharon a foul-mouthed naughty or anything.
Senator Michael McDowell tried to help.
“Later is a better word,” ventured the top senior counselor.
“We don’t want to be a pain in the ass for Europe,” repeated Sharon, eager to continue her contribution.
“It’s a bit unladylike, that’s all I’m saying,” the Cathaoirleach repeated unnecessarily.
“Oh really? I’m sorry. Oh, I’m sorry. Well, okay,” Sharon stammered, before the sheer and true enormity of the situation hit her. “Oh. Cathaoirleach. Are you saying I’m not like a lady?
“No, I said … the phrase, the phrase, to be clear, the phrase is a bit feminine,” oozes the senator from Kenmare’s Fianna Fáil, who is 47 years old.
“Thank you kindly,” Sharon squealed, all flustered.
“You are definitely a lady, there is no question about it,” said Mark.
“Oh my God!” she breathed. “Oh my God, my time is up. But I hope, I am sorry, I am very sorry and I apologize to the Presidency and the House, sorry for the word. “
The broad-minded president was the heart of generosity and forgiveness.
“Okay. The president was not at all offended by the phrase. I would just point out that he is not a parliamentarian and a bit feminine …”
At this point, Senator Vincent P. Martin decided to intervene. Like McDowell, he is also a distinguished Senior Counselor.
“What about the little chivalrous?” I ask. Fair play for him.
But the Cathaoirleach stood his ground.
“The phrase is a bit unladylike,” he insisted, but ended with a compliment to Sharon so that she wouldn’t feel too downhearted at being confronted with his slightly feminine accusation. “I know the senator is also too humble to mention her own great work in the area that she first mentioned, in the area of parenting, and I thank you for bringing that up.”
Message from the 1950s to Mark Daly: The 1950s called and they want their senator back. On her ass.
Laundry lady
This very strange exchange happened at the same time that some members of the Seanad were talking about the US presidential elections.
As Seanad leader, Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty had to respond to various contributions on the Agenda. She said she would not comment on the election, but agreed with calls for a debate on it.
Regina Doherty believes that we have a long way to go to achieve equality, not only in Ireland but in the world. Photography: Tom Honan
In particular, “when a lady, Amy Coney Barrett, is asked who does the laundry at her house when she is interviewed for one of the most serious and senior positions in the American judiciary.” This, Senator Doherty said, “is an absolute shame regardless of whether you agree with its policy or with the policy of the party that has proposed it, so I think it shows that we have a very long way to go. achieve equality, not only in Ireland but in the world ”.
Senator Ronan Mullen thinks of Justice Coney Barrett as “a very impressive candidate for the United States Supreme Court” who “would not have the remotest hope of being nominated by a Democratic administration”, which was a great shame in his opinion.
Amy would never use the word “ass”.
Ronan Mullen and Mark Daly would approve.
Private cabins
Dáil Éireann’s Superwomen and Supermen are in dire need of some phone booths in the Convention Center because at the moment they have nowhere to change into their Superhero costumes if the need arises.
This large omission in the facilities available during the temporary sessions at the center was detected by Pádraig MacLochlainn from Sinn Féin, who contacted the Oireachtas authorities to point out the omission.
As a result, six “private” rooms have been set up on the ground floor where the meeting area, cafeteria and work desks are located.
TDs and senators can use these translation booths for online meetings. “The booths provide a good degree of soundproofing and will provide a greater degree of privacy than is available in party and group rooms,” they were told this week.
Stands can be reserved in advance or people can have the opportunity to find a free one.
Only one person can hold a position at a time.
“Each user of a booth must disinfect the contact surfaces [desk, door handle, seat handle, light switch] before using the booth and before leaving it. Sanitizing wipes have been provided in each booth and, once used, should be placed in the plastic bags provided and then disposed of in the pedal bin in each booth. “
Nothing about red lights. Or curtains.
You would be looking for dangerous money to empty those containers.
Naked faces
Still on the subject of the Convention Center, Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath were criticized for not wearing masks when they made their grand entrance to the building on budget day. The ministers were photographed from above as they climbed an escalator in the elevated atrium, with not a hint of a face covering either of them.
The design by Irish-born architect Kevin Roche offers wonderful possibilities for photographs, with the light streaming through the curved glass facade and the panoramic views of the city skyline providing a stunning backdrop. Ministers weren’t going to ruin their beautiful images of posterity by covering their muzzles. However, they wore masks at all times, taking them off only for the escalator shots, when they were two meters away.
Dermod Dwyer, Executive Chairman of the Dublin Convention Center, told us that the high mezzanine walkway that runs the length of the glass wall was specifically designed with formal photographs of the state in mind. It certainly gets the job done. Politicians love it.
He also revealed that the occasional pandemic home of the Dáil on the banks of the Liffey has an unusual connection to Dáil Éireann.
The Conference Center, which opened in 2010, was Kevin Roche’s only Irish project. The internationally renowned architect died in the United States last year at the age of 96 and has the prestigious Pritzker Prize among his many awards. And his father, Eamon, was a TD of Sinn Féin (anti-treaty) in the third Dáil.
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