‘Worried Irish farmers will soon be a thing of the past,’ the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith has announced.
Mr Smith is attending the WTO negotiations in Geneva with the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan. This fresh attempt at a compromise between free-trade and protectionism has sparked high levels of anxiety from the IFA and their constituents.
Speaking at length this morning the Minister for Agriculture admitted that farmers would have to go. ‘There’s just no need for them anymore. Their way of life and the things they produce...they’ve become like travellers.’
‘It always made sense to import products we didn’t produce at home,’ he continued. ‘Oranges, bananas, tea, corn on the cob and so on. The globalised economy now means that it also makes economic sense to import things we can produce in Ireland. And when a product is cheaper, the consumer – ie the Irish people – wins.
Brazilian beef is only the beginning. Look out for mushrooms from Macedonia, tinned salmon from Senegal, basil from Israel, strawberries from St Domingo, lettuce from Latvia, and then a host of products from India, things like cooking oil, jam and mayonaise.
I would urge people not to get too sentimental. The reality is that Dev’s Ireland was long gone before they started brewing Guinness in Nigeria.
And what are the benefits for us? Well I’ve mentioned the consumer point. Now think about the environment. The synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides that farmers use will be a thing of the past. So too will soil degradation and erosion. The fashionable vision of farmers is that they will be care-takers of the earth, leaning on gates, gazing at empty fields, trimming the hedges along the boreens.
Most of them have off-farm jobs as it is. We are going to push for an increase of this. There are plenty of jobs out there in pharmaceutical factories, recruitment companies, financial services and, when the economy bounces back, the construction industry. If that’s not for you, why not do promotional work for the drinks industry, teach English as a foreign language or open a call centre? All these options are open to farmers.
Cattle are inefficient use of land. You’d be better off starting a pitch and putt course.’
In an unrelated speech, EU Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel reassured European consumers about the EU’s stance on peak oil: ‘Yes the world is facing significant problems with regard to resources at the moment. But solutions are on the way. By 2070 human population will have increased by three billion – it is inconceivable that none of them will have fresh ideas for a way forward.’
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Farewell to Dáil Eireann
In an audacious move Tánaiste Ms. Mary Coughlan has committed to a deal that will see the Dáil renamed ‘the Vodafone.’
This follows hot on the heels of two more rebrandings that could see this kind of arrangement become the norm.
Shea Stadium, home to the New York Mets, is to be demolished this September. Citigroup (the world’s largest company, with assets of $2.2 trillion) has agreed to finance its replacement – in return for which the ballpark will be renamed Citifield.
Closer to home, Dublin’s Point Theatre is to be rechristened ‘the O2.’
Ms. Coughlan, who became Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on May 7th, wanted to be pro-active about the recession. Her promotion to Tánaiste gave her the confidence to enter talks with the communications giant.
The negotiations stalled when news came that, after five years, Arun Sarin had resigned as Vodafone CEO on June 29th. But it was very easy to pick up where she had left off with the new boss, Vittorio Colao.
‘There was a certain chemistry,’ Ms Coughlan told reporters. ‘Vittorio is actually a reserve officer of the Italian Carabinieri, and my husband is a Garda, so there were a lot of similar life experiences. That certainly helped.’ And of course, Mr Colao was looking for an eye-catching first project.
Under the agreement, Vodafone, which in Europe alone earns in the region of €14bn every six months, agrees to clean and maintain both houses of the Oireachtas and their gardens, as well as pay the salaries of all security on duty.
This is only the first step. If things go well, then in two years’ time Vodafone will begin paying the salaries of all TDs, saving the tax-payer a significant amount of money. In exchange for this, the Dail is to be renamed the Vodafone, and all legislation and notepaper will carry the Vodafone logo, as well as the traditional harp.
The Minister added: ‘It’s great that we in the Dáil can partner a company with such a significant global footprint. Vodafone’s record with shareholders is excellent. Dividends have increased from 1.69p to 7.51p, an increase of more than 400%, in recent times. Who knows, maybe when they take over the running of the Dail dividends for our shareholders, the Irish people, will start to go up as well.’
This is the first time a national parliament has been renamed after a company. A Department of Enterprise press release saw in it ‘fitting recognition of the huge role multinationals play in the world today’ and was confident ‘other parliaments would follow.’
It has also been learned that the GAA is in negotiations to rename Croke Park ‘the Meteor.’
This follows hot on the heels of two more rebrandings that could see this kind of arrangement become the norm.
Shea Stadium, home to the New York Mets, is to be demolished this September. Citigroup (the world’s largest company, with assets of $2.2 trillion) has agreed to finance its replacement – in return for which the ballpark will be renamed Citifield.
Closer to home, Dublin’s Point Theatre is to be rechristened ‘the O2.’
Ms. Coughlan, who became Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on May 7th, wanted to be pro-active about the recession. Her promotion to Tánaiste gave her the confidence to enter talks with the communications giant.
The negotiations stalled when news came that, after five years, Arun Sarin had resigned as Vodafone CEO on June 29th. But it was very easy to pick up where she had left off with the new boss, Vittorio Colao.
‘There was a certain chemistry,’ Ms Coughlan told reporters. ‘Vittorio is actually a reserve officer of the Italian Carabinieri, and my husband is a Garda, so there were a lot of similar life experiences. That certainly helped.’ And of course, Mr Colao was looking for an eye-catching first project.
Under the agreement, Vodafone, which in Europe alone earns in the region of €14bn every six months, agrees to clean and maintain both houses of the Oireachtas and their gardens, as well as pay the salaries of all security on duty.
This is only the first step. If things go well, then in two years’ time Vodafone will begin paying the salaries of all TDs, saving the tax-payer a significant amount of money. In exchange for this, the Dail is to be renamed the Vodafone, and all legislation and notepaper will carry the Vodafone logo, as well as the traditional harp.
The Minister added: ‘It’s great that we in the Dáil can partner a company with such a significant global footprint. Vodafone’s record with shareholders is excellent. Dividends have increased from 1.69p to 7.51p, an increase of more than 400%, in recent times. Who knows, maybe when they take over the running of the Dail dividends for our shareholders, the Irish people, will start to go up as well.’
This is the first time a national parliament has been renamed after a company. A Department of Enterprise press release saw in it ‘fitting recognition of the huge role multinationals play in the world today’ and was confident ‘other parliaments would follow.’
It has also been learned that the GAA is in negotiations to rename Croke Park ‘the Meteor.’
Gormley announces passport plan for Woeser
John Gormley, still fuming over China’s human rights abuses, has asked colleague Michael Martin to grant Tibetan poet and blogger Woeser an Irish passport.
China has long been a thorn in Mr Gormley’s side. At the Green Party conference this April the party leader spent 52 words of a 2,998 word speech castigating the Chinese government for its mistreatment of Tibet.
‘It was a real cri de coeur from John,’ said a Green party spokesman. ‘If Patrick Hillary hadn’t died that day, I think more people would have picked up on what he said, and the Chinese Government would have been made take those remarks more seriously. But there you go, people get distracted.’
Bureaucrats in Beijing have ignored Woeser’s application for a passport since 2003. ‘She’s very negative,’ said President Hu Jintao. ‘Always complaining about Tibet and a litany of other things that’d put years on you.’
Mr Gormley thinks that if the Irish government could issue a passport it would go some way to showing China that the Green Party means business.
Minister Martin is currently visiting a soccer camp for Israeli and Palestinian children funded by the Irish Government and is expected to address the issue when he returns.
Meanwhile, Mr Gormley is said have fallen into a rage when he heard of the Government decision to send Martin Cullen as official representative to the Olympics. Aides were frightened as Mr Gormley fell silent before snapping a pencil in two with his hands and flinging the pieces from his Custom House window.
China has long been a thorn in Mr Gormley’s side. At the Green Party conference this April the party leader spent 52 words of a 2,998 word speech castigating the Chinese government for its mistreatment of Tibet.
‘It was a real cri de coeur from John,’ said a Green party spokesman. ‘If Patrick Hillary hadn’t died that day, I think more people would have picked up on what he said, and the Chinese Government would have been made take those remarks more seriously. But there you go, people get distracted.’
Bureaucrats in Beijing have ignored Woeser’s application for a passport since 2003. ‘She’s very negative,’ said President Hu Jintao. ‘Always complaining about Tibet and a litany of other things that’d put years on you.’
Mr Gormley thinks that if the Irish government could issue a passport it would go some way to showing China that the Green Party means business.
Minister Martin is currently visiting a soccer camp for Israeli and Palestinian children funded by the Irish Government and is expected to address the issue when he returns.
Meanwhile, Mr Gormley is said have fallen into a rage when he heard of the Government decision to send Martin Cullen as official representative to the Olympics. Aides were frightened as Mr Gormley fell silent before snapping a pencil in two with his hands and flinging the pieces from his Custom House window.
Cabinet goes on holidays as crisis worsens
With inflation rising across the country and further hikes in gas, oil, wheat, barley, milk, parking costs for civil servants and package holidays to Greece and Portugal expected, the Cabinet is refusing to end its annual summer holiday early.
'The summer holiday is a long-standing tradition,' said Noel Dempsey as he closed his clinic in Castlejordan.
But the State has all the appearance of falling apart. Real estate is plummeting in Dublin. If this disastrous meltdown is not halted, house prices are expected to become affordable again by autumn 2009.
Angry mobs gathered outside an empty Oireachtas yesterday to protest against the end of the Celtic Tiger. Their slogans fell on deaf ears, their placards invisible to Government Ministers, who were holidaying insouciantly with their families in Lake Garda and the Maldives.
The public tried to contact several Departments, but the phones rang out, presumably for want of people to answer them. Yet another sign of straitened times and savage budget cuts.
Eating out, soon to be a symbol of by-gone days, has become unsustainable, with restauranteurs now asking €45.00 for commoner garden dishes like fillet of John Dory and braised suckling pig, while simple vegetarian dishes like celeriac and truffle lasagne is a whopping €32.00.
‘The Government is committed to maintaining high levels of employment and a strong business sector,’ said Taoiseach Brian Cowen as he officially opened a social welfare local office in Tullamore last week. Code, no doubt, for ‘the worst is yet to come.’
'The summer holiday is a long-standing tradition,' said Noel Dempsey as he closed his clinic in Castlejordan.
But the State has all the appearance of falling apart. Real estate is plummeting in Dublin. If this disastrous meltdown is not halted, house prices are expected to become affordable again by autumn 2009.
Angry mobs gathered outside an empty Oireachtas yesterday to protest against the end of the Celtic Tiger. Their slogans fell on deaf ears, their placards invisible to Government Ministers, who were holidaying insouciantly with their families in Lake Garda and the Maldives.
The public tried to contact several Departments, but the phones rang out, presumably for want of people to answer them. Yet another sign of straitened times and savage budget cuts.
Eating out, soon to be a symbol of by-gone days, has become unsustainable, with restauranteurs now asking €45.00 for commoner garden dishes like fillet of John Dory and braised suckling pig, while simple vegetarian dishes like celeriac and truffle lasagne is a whopping €32.00.
‘The Government is committed to maintaining high levels of employment and a strong business sector,’ said Taoiseach Brian Cowen as he officially opened a social welfare local office in Tullamore last week. Code, no doubt, for ‘the worst is yet to come.’
Galway Races reveals PD split
Ireland’s mould breaking party was nearly torn apart by divisions in recent days. The PD National Executive was due to assemble next week - when the Galway Races would be in full swing.
But Noel Grealish (Galway West) and Ciaran Cannon (Galway East) had already booked tickets - and together they make up 50% of the party’s Oireachtas seat-holders.
The row erupted when the other half of the party – all Dublin, all female – announced their indifference to the Ballybrit event and demanded the AGM be held as scheduled.
'I thought it would look very bad if we were seen to be working around the Galway Races,' said former party leader Mary Harney. 'I know we’re genetically Fianna Fail, but rescheduling your AGM – even they wouldn’t do that.’
‘They wouldn’t do that because they’d never double book,’ retaliated current party leader Ciaran Cannon, brandishing his ticket.
Suddenly it was the male, west coast Cannon-Grealish coalition versus the all Dublin, all female other half of the party, PD heavyweights Harney and founder-offspring Fiona O Malley.
Keith Redmond, a 33-year old dentist and PD activist who (according to the PD website) ‘is set to wed his fiancée in next May’, contacted Paul Dunne, a local area representative for the PDs in Tramore, and the two mediated this epic east meets west gender war.
After gruelling talks that yielded material for futher disagreements, the AGM was held on Friday. Ciaran Cannon described the mood as ‘surprisingly buoyant for a party with an uncertain future.’
Fiona O Malley announced she will fight Dublin South’s byelection for a seat in the Dail. ‘I love being a senator,’ she said.
But Noel Grealish (Galway West) and Ciaran Cannon (Galway East) had already booked tickets - and together they make up 50% of the party’s Oireachtas seat-holders.
The row erupted when the other half of the party – all Dublin, all female – announced their indifference to the Ballybrit event and demanded the AGM be held as scheduled.
'I thought it would look very bad if we were seen to be working around the Galway Races,' said former party leader Mary Harney. 'I know we’re genetically Fianna Fail, but rescheduling your AGM – even they wouldn’t do that.’
‘They wouldn’t do that because they’d never double book,’ retaliated current party leader Ciaran Cannon, brandishing his ticket.
Suddenly it was the male, west coast Cannon-Grealish coalition versus the all Dublin, all female other half of the party, PD heavyweights Harney and founder-offspring Fiona O Malley.
Keith Redmond, a 33-year old dentist and PD activist who (according to the PD website) ‘is set to wed his fiancée in next May’, contacted Paul Dunne, a local area representative for the PDs in Tramore, and the two mediated this epic east meets west gender war.
After gruelling talks that yielded material for futher disagreements, the AGM was held on Friday. Ciaran Cannon described the mood as ‘surprisingly buoyant for a party with an uncertain future.’
Fiona O Malley announced she will fight Dublin South’s byelection for a seat in the Dail. ‘I love being a senator,’ she said.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Obama to snub Ireland this weekend
American celebrity Barack Obama is scheduled to snub Ireland on Monday, if not this weekend, by flying back to the United States directly from London.
Obama has been granted an audience with French President Sarkozy today, after which he travels to London for talks with Gordon Brown. The Illinois Senator refused to countenance the one hour flight from London to Dublin, although top aides impressed on him Ireland’s political and economic clout.
Rumours circulated that Obama feared his vague stance on chlorinated chickens would earn him the ire of Irish poultry farmers. The EU has banned poultry imports from the U.S for the past 11 years because the Americans refuse to stop chlorinating their birds.
Obama has been granted an audience with French President Sarkozy today, after which he travels to London for talks with Gordon Brown. The Illinois Senator refused to countenance the one hour flight from London to Dublin, although top aides impressed on him Ireland’s political and economic clout.
Rumours circulated that Obama feared his vague stance on chlorinated chickens would earn him the ire of Irish poultry farmers. The EU has banned poultry imports from the U.S for the past 11 years because the Americans refuse to stop chlorinating their birds.
Coca-Cola fears job cuts in Ireland
Coca-Cola was recently forced to close its Drogheda factory – at a cost of 250 jobs –and now its Athy premises may face a similar fate. The multinational giant might have to let its 83 Kildare workers go if they ask for a pay increase, it told the Labour Court yesterday.
Chris Blendicut, Coke’s Development and Innovation manager in Europe, explained to the Labour Court that the company’s profits for the second quarter of this year had fallen from $1.2bn to $864m. If the 83 workers in Athy start tooking for a wage increase – and sources close to them say they could be seeking as much as a 40c increase per hour – it could be the straw the breaks the camel’s back, he said.
Coca-Cola, no less than other multinationals, is suffering the effects of the world downturn. Growth in new markets such as China, Russia, Turkey, India, Latin America and the Middle East is the only thing keeping the world's largest drinks maker afloat.
Chris Blendicut, Coke’s Development and Innovation manager in Europe, explained to the Labour Court that the company’s profits for the second quarter of this year had fallen from $1.2bn to $864m. If the 83 workers in Athy start tooking for a wage increase – and sources close to them say they could be seeking as much as a 40c increase per hour – it could be the straw the breaks the camel’s back, he said.
Coca-Cola, no less than other multinationals, is suffering the effects of the world downturn. Growth in new markets such as China, Russia, Turkey, India, Latin America and the Middle East is the only thing keeping the world's largest drinks maker afloat.
FF unveils ‘slightly’ rebranded name
Dermot Ahern was blaming the silly season. ‘It’s nothing. The media, as it does at this time every year, is trying its best to make a story out of nothing.’
But Enda Kenny was having none of it. ‘It’s a disgrace. It’s worse than the future of Zimbabwe,’ he said. Labour leader Eamon Gilmore drew comparisons with the most well-known Asian dictatorships.
FF’s decision to change its moniker from 'the republican party' to FF – the Permanent Party of Government has opposition parties fuming, but as usual, the public seems unconcerned.
Sitting in his constituency office on William Street, Tullamore the Taoiseach was critical of criticism: ‘It’s nothing new,’ said Mr Cowen. ‘It’s simply a recognition of something longstanding.’
But Enda Kenny was having none of it. ‘It’s a disgrace. It’s worse than the future of Zimbabwe,’ he said. Labour leader Eamon Gilmore drew comparisons with the most well-known Asian dictatorships.
FF’s decision to change its moniker from 'the republican party' to FF – the Permanent Party of Government has opposition parties fuming, but as usual, the public seems unconcerned.
Sitting in his constituency office on William Street, Tullamore the Taoiseach was critical of criticism: ‘It’s nothing new,’ said Mr Cowen. ‘It’s simply a recognition of something longstanding.’
Ministerial trend continues
‘Buildings speak of us as a society and define us,’ said Minister for the Arts Martin Cullen this week, announcing Ireland’s entries in this year’s Venice Biennale.
‘We don’t know what they say, or how exactly they define us, because they speak with the voice of bricks, steel and glass, which can be difficult to decipher. But all of our daily lives are affected by architecture, because everywhere we go, we are surrounded by things that have been built. Architecture can bring all sorts of emotions, and make us happy, uplifted or sad - something all great artistic people can do.’
The Ministerial habit of referring to ‘artistic people’ in the same respectful, vague tone as they refer to ‘members of the Jewish faith’ was begun by Charles Haughey.
The Minister promised that the new Abbey Theatre would ‘go ahead in my time’, but would not be drawn as to whether that meant his time as Minister or his time in the more general sense.
‘We don’t know what they say, or how exactly they define us, because they speak with the voice of bricks, steel and glass, which can be difficult to decipher. But all of our daily lives are affected by architecture, because everywhere we go, we are surrounded by things that have been built. Architecture can bring all sorts of emotions, and make us happy, uplifted or sad - something all great artistic people can do.’
The Ministerial habit of referring to ‘artistic people’ in the same respectful, vague tone as they refer to ‘members of the Jewish faith’ was begun by Charles Haughey.
The Minister promised that the new Abbey Theatre would ‘go ahead in my time’, but would not be drawn as to whether that meant his time as Minister or his time in the more general sense.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Obama pledges more alliteration in War on Poverty
Tiergarten park, Berlin – Democratic nominee Barack Obama pledged more hope and handshaking, lovingkindness and leaflets for America’s poor if elected to office this November.
‘My heart is glad, and my flesh rests in hope,’ America’s premier orator told Berliners. ‘The sorrows of the poor shall be multiplied no more.’
Mr Obama continued: ‘It is an ineludible truth that the defeat of inertia is inestimable.’
If elected president, he could assure his fellow Americans, together with the people of the world, that his administration would feature ‘less provocation and more proximation, fewer promises and more profusion, profundity, progress and peace.’
These last remarks have led some supporters to hail Mr Obama as the first presidential candidate to lauch a War on War.
Mr Obama was speaking in front of the attractive Siegessaeule, or Victory Column, a 70 meter high monument that celebrates Prussia’s speedy obliteration of the Danish, Austrian and French armies between 1864 and 1870.
‘My heart is glad, and my flesh rests in hope,’ America’s premier orator told Berliners. ‘The sorrows of the poor shall be multiplied no more.’
Mr Obama continued: ‘It is an ineludible truth that the defeat of inertia is inestimable.’
If elected president, he could assure his fellow Americans, together with the people of the world, that his administration would feature ‘less provocation and more proximation, fewer promises and more profusion, profundity, progress and peace.’
These last remarks have led some supporters to hail Mr Obama as the first presidential candidate to lauch a War on War.
Mr Obama was speaking in front of the attractive Siegessaeule, or Victory Column, a 70 meter high monument that celebrates Prussia’s speedy obliteration of the Danish, Austrian and French armies between 1864 and 1870.
Cholesterol Screening Is Urged for TDs
The new guidelines were to be issued by the Irish Academy of Pediatrics on Monday amid growing evidence that the first signs of heart disease in the nation’s adults show up in Ministers.
The push to aggressively screen and medicate for high cholesterol in TDs is certain to create controversy amid a continuing debate about the use of prescription drugs in the Dail as well as the best approaches to ward off heart disease in adults.
The Academy also now recommends giving TDs low-fat milk after 12 months if a doctor is concerned about future weight problems. Although TDs need fat for brain development, the group says that because they often consume so much fat on the various trips and free lunches they attend, low-fat milk is now appropriate.
The push to aggressively screen and medicate for high cholesterol in TDs is certain to create controversy amid a continuing debate about the use of prescription drugs in the Dail as well as the best approaches to ward off heart disease in adults.
The Academy also now recommends giving TDs low-fat milk after 12 months if a doctor is concerned about future weight problems. Although TDs need fat for brain development, the group says that because they often consume so much fat on the various trips and free lunches they attend, low-fat milk is now appropriate.
Cowen asks children to wear hijab in schools
In a bid to make FF the party of choice for Irish Muslims, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has requested his own children to wear the hijab when the school term begins again, on August 26th.
FF has already gone a long way to convince Poles resident in the country that the Republican Party has their best interests at heart, with Micheal Martin eating borst on St Patrick’s day, and the FF website featuring a Polish language option. The genitive case of Bertie Ahern appears to be Bertiego Aherna.
Fr Sean Healy of CORI has said the move ‘falls far short of what is desired and will do nothing to alleviate the plight of the working poor.’
FF has already gone a long way to convince Poles resident in the country that the Republican Party has their best interests at heart, with Micheal Martin eating borst on St Patrick’s day, and the FF website featuring a Polish language option. The genitive case of Bertie Ahern appears to be Bertiego Aherna.
Fr Sean Healy of CORI has said the move ‘falls far short of what is desired and will do nothing to alleviate the plight of the working poor.’
In Ivor the conniver Callely, Bush Sees ‘a Smart Guy’
'I found him to be a smart guy who understood the issues very well,' Mr. Bush said.
The two men met in Hokkaido during the latest G8 summit. Mr Callely was not expected to attend, but Yasuo Fakuda, the Japanese PM, welcomed his presence.
Mr Callely was made Senator by Ireland’s former political chart-topper, Bertie Ahern, when his re-election bid failed last June.
The two men spoke on the need for Iran and North Korea to abandon their nuclear ambitions, but did not bridge their differences on Mr. Bush’s proposal to build a missile defense system in Dublin North Central, Senator Callely’s constituency.
The American president celebrated his 62nd birthday during the summit. Callely, who has a reputation for hawk-eyed attention to detail in his constituency, was fulsome in his wishes.
‘I congratulated George on his birthday,’ he told reporters, ‘which is also a very important thing, irrespective of the summits out there — irrespective of our will, these dates occur in our life.’
With the dry wit that has characterised his presidency, Mr. Bush replied: ‘Everybody has a birthday.’
The two men met in Hokkaido during the latest G8 summit. Mr Callely was not expected to attend, but Yasuo Fakuda, the Japanese PM, welcomed his presence.
Mr Callely was made Senator by Ireland’s former political chart-topper, Bertie Ahern, when his re-election bid failed last June.
The two men spoke on the need for Iran and North Korea to abandon their nuclear ambitions, but did not bridge their differences on Mr. Bush’s proposal to build a missile defense system in Dublin North Central, Senator Callely’s constituency.
The American president celebrated his 62nd birthday during the summit. Callely, who has a reputation for hawk-eyed attention to detail in his constituency, was fulsome in his wishes.
‘I congratulated George on his birthday,’ he told reporters, ‘which is also a very important thing, irrespective of the summits out there — irrespective of our will, these dates occur in our life.’
With the dry wit that has characterised his presidency, Mr. Bush replied: ‘Everybody has a birthday.’
Sarko bothered & bewildered by Irish
What part of You Must Vote Again don’t you understand? asked a baffled Nicolas Sarkozy at Government Buildings this week.
‘There's no reason to be angry when you say to a nation that at some stage or another, you will have to be consulted. In a democracy that's the very least one can do.
I believe that in a democracy you have to keep consulting the people. You have to constantly ask them – what do you think about this now? People change their minds all the time. If that makes some groups angry then I’m sorry, but that’s democracy. And I take my hat off to the Greeks for coming up with it.’
‘Ireland is passionate about Europe, Ireland has not rejected Europe,’ Mr Sarkozy added.
‘I do not regret for one second having come over. I’m just sorry I missed lunch and am leaving before dinner. I hear Irish cuisine is really tops. I want to express to Brian [Cowen] my feelings of friendship, confidence and support in finding a way out of the situation that Ganley, apathy, ignorance and ingratitude have landed us in.’
‘There's no reason to be angry when you say to a nation that at some stage or another, you will have to be consulted. In a democracy that's the very least one can do.
I believe that in a democracy you have to keep consulting the people. You have to constantly ask them – what do you think about this now? People change their minds all the time. If that makes some groups angry then I’m sorry, but that’s democracy. And I take my hat off to the Greeks for coming up with it.’
‘Ireland is passionate about Europe, Ireland has not rejected Europe,’ Mr Sarkozy added.
‘I do not regret for one second having come over. I’m just sorry I missed lunch and am leaving before dinner. I hear Irish cuisine is really tops. I want to express to Brian [Cowen] my feelings of friendship, confidence and support in finding a way out of the situation that Ganley, apathy, ignorance and ingratitude have landed us in.’
Nice Four for Valentine’s Day
The Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin will attend a summit in Brussels on December 11th-12th, where Mr Cowen is scheduled to tell fellow leaders that the Irish Government will be able to carry a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty.
To avoid the acrimony that the name Lisbon arouses, the February referendum will be referred to as Nice Four.
‘It was a tight enough election but it was a definitive decision against Lisbon as it stands’ said Mr Martin yesterday, hinting that with a bit of effort the Cairde Fhianna Fáil could emerge with the more desirable 53%, currently held by Libertas.
‘It's far too soon to be speculating on whether you have another one or if you have another one,’ continued the Minister, rambling.
‘Certainly by the end of the year people need clarity if nothing else in terms of the future,’ he went on. "People will need to know there are obvious timetables under what conditions certain things are going to happen.’
To avoid the acrimony that the name Lisbon arouses, the February referendum will be referred to as Nice Four.
‘It was a tight enough election but it was a definitive decision against Lisbon as it stands’ said Mr Martin yesterday, hinting that with a bit of effort the Cairde Fhianna Fáil could emerge with the more desirable 53%, currently held by Libertas.
‘It's far too soon to be speculating on whether you have another one or if you have another one,’ continued the Minister, rambling.
‘Certainly by the end of the year people need clarity if nothing else in terms of the future,’ he went on. "People will need to know there are obvious timetables under what conditions certain things are going to happen.’
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Sarko woos Hennessy
Irish Times political correspondent Mark Hennessy was flushed with admiration for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who spent the best part of an afternoon in Ireland this Monday.
A seasoned analyst, Hennessy was well aware Mr Sarkozy has a reputation for impatience, self-obsession and savage bluntness, but the pol cor counted himself among the ‘dazzled’ after the president’s five hour visit.
‘Sarkozy is a consummate performer,’ Hennessy revealed. ‘He came, he saw, he wriggled away in the best political style.’ Hennessy was particularly struck by his physical resemblance to France’s number one. ‘We’re roughly the same height and build,’ he told readers, ‘though he’s a little broader than I am.’
The Sarkozy effect was all the more startling considering the hackles he raised in the lead-up to his visit, but Carla’s other half displayed great sphingerie à petit pas. ‘In Irish, it would be called plámás,’ Hennessy said. ‘In any language, it appears to have been effective.’
A seasoned analyst, Hennessy was well aware Mr Sarkozy has a reputation for impatience, self-obsession and savage bluntness, but the pol cor counted himself among the ‘dazzled’ after the president’s five hour visit.
‘Sarkozy is a consummate performer,’ Hennessy revealed. ‘He came, he saw, he wriggled away in the best political style.’ Hennessy was particularly struck by his physical resemblance to France’s number one. ‘We’re roughly the same height and build,’ he told readers, ‘though he’s a little broader than I am.’
The Sarkozy effect was all the more startling considering the hackles he raised in the lead-up to his visit, but Carla’s other half displayed great sphingerie à petit pas. ‘In Irish, it would be called plámás,’ Hennessy said. ‘In any language, it appears to have been effective.’
May 25th becomes Famine Festival
Eamon Ó Cuív has announced Ireland’s latest Feast Day – from now May 25th is to become the Famine Festival.
The Festival will take place in each of the country’s ports, and will tastefully feature an abundance of food.
‘We hit on the idea of combining the Slow Food movement with a Famine commemoration. We wanted to feature both the food that was available in Ireland in the 1840s such as mackeral, Connemara Atlantic salmon, silver eel, oysters and mussels, as well as food that has only recently become available here, like white honey and Amalfi sfusato lemons.’
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs chose May 25th to clash with Africa Day, run by the Department of Foreign Affairs. There has not traditionally been rivalry between the two.
Mr Ó Cuív has been given no money as yet to establish a special committee for the Festival. Tim Pat Coogan and retired diplomat Hugh Swift have secured places on the committee.
The Minister hopes to hold a simultaneous celebration each May 25th with an area of the globe that is currently Famine-stricken. ‘We are looking at that possibility,’ he said.
The Festival will take place in each of the country’s ports, and will tastefully feature an abundance of food.
‘We hit on the idea of combining the Slow Food movement with a Famine commemoration. We wanted to feature both the food that was available in Ireland in the 1840s such as mackeral, Connemara Atlantic salmon, silver eel, oysters and mussels, as well as food that has only recently become available here, like white honey and Amalfi sfusato lemons.’
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs chose May 25th to clash with Africa Day, run by the Department of Foreign Affairs. There has not traditionally been rivalry between the two.
Mr Ó Cuív has been given no money as yet to establish a special committee for the Festival. Tim Pat Coogan and retired diplomat Hugh Swift have secured places on the committee.
The Minister hopes to hold a simultaneous celebration each May 25th with an area of the globe that is currently Famine-stricken. ‘We are looking at that possibility,’ he said.
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