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Has anything good come of the rampant delusion of the “Golfgate” fury?
Oh yeah. Definitely.
In the two weeks since Dáil’s early return from summer break, TDs Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been pondering the aftermath of the now infamous post-tournament dinner in Galway. A messy affair, with the Minister of Agriculture falling on his lawn and a European Commissioner impaling himself on his arrogance.
Supreme Court Justice Séamus Woulfe awaits his fate. Still, in these troubling times where work for lawyers has plummeted off the Covid cliff, at least the former attorney general (who advised the government on Covid-19 legislation) is doing his part by working as Counsel for an investigation into her attendance at the Connemara golf party, which went ahead despite government health guidelines on indoor gatherings.
Wounded Phil’s future moves were the subject of much speculation at Leinster House this week.
Despite all the public turmoil and subsequent denunciations by political leaders in the Dáil, Golfgate has disappeared from the radar at Leinster House. They have all moved on. We wonder again if the volatile Coalition can act together enough to provide strong leadership in the face of a pandemic winter and a brexit storm to come.
Can the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste really work together?
They can, his troops say, thanks to the exploits of the eejits at Ballyconneely.
This week a suspiciously high number of politicians from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael suddenly formed the same poignant contrived view about Golfgate and its effect on government.
“He has joined Micheál and Leo.”
Aaah.
They were joined by Big Phil’s blood on the carpet, deliberately devising the end of the trade commissioner’s career. He has “united” them.
Phil Hogan’s future is the subject of much speculation around Leinster House. Stock Photography: Dara Mac Dónaill
Both could be advised to stay that way for safety reasons. Phil Hogan is not at all happy with his pivotal role in his downfall (he didn’t help himself by misinterpreting the depth of public anger at his actions and making matters worse with what seemed like an arrogant and dismissive attitude toward genuine concerns. from the people) .
The former commissioner broke his silence earlier in the week in an exclusive interview with Mary Cody of Kilkenny People, thereby underscoring his anger at the national media as well. While acknowledging the mistakes that led to the premature end of his 38 years in public life, he complained that he was not allowed due process and said he was subjected to “a full-scale attack” by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste. .
He says his life in public service is over. However, the future movements of the injured Phil were the subject of much speculation at Leinster House this week, along with well-known references to “waiting in the tall grass” and “horse heads at the end of the beds.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett. Photograph: Liam McBurney / PA
An enduring coalition
Without idle gossip and gossip, this column would be private. And we can’t leave all the heavy lifting to Fintan.
But sometimes the Leinster House rumor outdoes itself. You wouldn’t believe half of what we hear when looking for spicy gossip for Kildare Street Court Circular. This week, a person with excellent political connections relayed an interesting, if disappointing, snippet. It was a gospel, apparently.
Similar reports were whispered over the next few days. So we did a very discreet consultation with someone who might know. He said he would approach the person in question, since two journalists had already contacted and a government minister asked him the same question that same day.
Separately, we contacted a source close to the government to see if they knew anything. They returned the next day. “Oh, it’s definitely true.” Much corroboration is cited.
A colleague rang. God yes. I also heard that. It’s everywhere. “
At lunchtime on Thursday, the rumor friend got back in touch.
“There is nothing truth in it. She’s still laughing. “
And on Thursday afternoon the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar got in touch.
“I have no idea where it came from. We continue to live happily in sin. Usually the rumor is that we had a secret wedding. “
So Matt and Leo haven’t separated.
And that’s the truth.
Mairéad McGuinness is a confident, strong and capable woman. The kind that some men can’t be doing with. Photography: Dara Mac Dónaill
Commissioner McGuinness kicks off the guys at FG
So much fun this week with some of the Fine Gael guys.
They are a little sore from what happened to Big Phil. So it’s only fair to try to offer a few words of comfort.
“Ah, well, at least Mairéad got the job.” And it’s a decent portfolio too, right? She really knows Europe from the inside out and is very eloquent. She’s great at those interviews on English news channels, isn’t she? Don’t accept nonsense from those Tory Brexiteers. Very impressive, isn’t it? Good for her! “
And the guys, they can’t agree. But you can see from their pale smiles and stuttering agreement that their hearts aren’t really in it. Which is delicious.
Mairéad McGuinness is a confident, strong and capable woman. She lives up to and lives up to EU policy. She is respected by her continental peers in the European Parliament. When Hogan’s work came up, she said bluntly that she loved him and would be more than capable of doing it.
That single statement would have caused massive vapor attacks among the Fine Gael guys. The ones who really can’t be doing it with an ambitious and unapologetic woman like Mairéad. That’s why they call her “McGuinness Elbows.”
It would never occur to them to label a politician with similar personal qualities (many of them) that way. He would be a hero.
And now they’ll have to elbow their way to the Elbows door, now that she’s Commissioner McGuinness.
Speaking from the heart
One of her first assignments since her promotion was to honor a longstanding commitment to two charities for the homeless in her constituency: Midlands Simon and Sophia.
Representatives of the two groups feared that she would not be able to launch a new EU-funded project for them last week due to the impending reorganization in Brussels. However, in case she could be stopped, McGuinness prerecorded a speech in which she laid out her vision of the EU “not as a set of economies but as a community of people.” She spoke of the need for a European approach to homelessness and how her direct experience of working with charities in the Midlands enabled her to speak about homelessness “from the heart”.
Midlands Simon is chaired by former Fine Gael councilor Mark Cooney, while one of its most committed directors since his retirement from politics has been Brian Cowen. The former taoiseach has kept a low profile since suffering a serious illness, but has contributed significantly to Simon’s work to address the growing problem of poor sleepers, which is often assumed to be a phenomenon confined to big cities.
The news from the Midlands is that it continues to recover well. Her most recent public appearance was at the funeral of her mother, May. But while there was some controversy over the presence of photographers, the media respectfully stayed away from the cemetery and thus missed Brian’s prayer.
By all accounts, it was a deeply moving speech, and the former Taoiseach proved that he has lost none of his wit and oratorical ability, even in the saddest of circumstances.
Ring left with crumbs from Martin’s cabinet clean table
We hear that Fine Gael has completed a major review of the party’s less than stellar performance in the general election earlier in the year. But everything is very quiet. Many of those who worked on the campaign at party headquarters did not even know what was happening.
It is being kept secret for now. Will it ever see the light of day? Is it too difficult for some key players or just too hot to launch?
One general election specialist who is always guaranteed to comply with the party is May’s Michael Ring, who knows how to run a successful campaign. He still resents being banished to the back benches when his party leader had to do reverse loaves and fishes work with Cabinet appointments.
Apparently when Ringo cleaned out his ministerial office, he took everything with him except any photos of him with Varadkar. He left them all behind.
You will miss the tasty breakfasts that are prepared for ministers when the Cabinet holds its morning meetings. There is usually a hot buffet beforehand and refreshments during meetings.
With health-conscious Micheál Martin playing host now, comes the usual complement of tea and coffee as always, but with a pot of boiling water for those wanting a drop of green tea. The Taoiseach drinks it all the time.
And there are no sticky buns to dishonor your cabinet table. It is fruit until the end. Those requiring an aul cookie have to make their way from embarrassment to another table.
Because there are three parties in this political marriage, the pre-Cabinet meetings are held first. A buffet of full Irish fries or a cold Micheál Martin snack is served in government buildings when the coalition ministers arrive. They fill their plates and retire to eat in their respective party rooms before meeting for the main session.
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