Fine Gael - Taking pettiness to a new level.

91011

I sincerely hope the report in today's Indo is untrue.

They claim FG are withdrawing pairing agreement with ministers on official business thus Mary Coughlan's cancellation of a jobs & edcation trip to the USA.

According to the report it part of Enda Kenny's new "get tough" image.

So FG are complaining about the jobs situation and then stop a minister going to meetings to try and get new investment?

No wonder we're all looking at the Labour Party.

FG have to get this fool out now.

Le King

FG are useless. People know this.

But Labour are playing the popularity game with no real policies put on the table.

Problem is we have no real leader. My preference would be for Brian Lenihan to be the next Taoiseach. FF won't get back in with Cowen.

bette

She could go on the Jay Leno show in person!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRZvERI5nf8&feature=player_embedded

Pairing is a nonsense and should be done away with along with the whip system.

RealityCheck

Fine Gael are doing us all a favour. Seriously who wants that unqualified and gaff prone minister meeting anyone abroad on behalf of our country?

They've targeted one of the more useless ministers, so don't see the harm. Anyway why has'nt she gone in the last 2/3 months? Why is it when our parliament returns?

Oh ya, what ever happened Cowens trip to China in September. I remember not so long ago there was furore over him cancelling his trip, and for what a piss up in Galway?

aigster

Calamity is inept.is the summer holiday not sufficient.... ? As for pairing...is this not what is wrong.. Il scratch your politics..

So let's be real , a junket was stopped.... Let's not pretend this is a jobs fiasco.. Ps. Why calamity anyway?.

bijapos

RealityCheck wrote: »

Fine Gael are doing us all a favour. Seriously who wants that unqualified and gaff prone minister meeting anyone abroad on behalf of our country?

How do you think it will look to the people she was going to meet when she can't attend at short notice because the opposition are throwing their toys out of the pram. Won't inspire a lot of confidence in the Americans will it. She may be useless but she is a high level rep pf the country whether we like it or not.


Only does a bit more to confirm my view that we know FF are not fit to run the country, but FG are not fit to run it either.

bette

bijapos wrote: »

How do you think it will look to the people she was going to meet when she can't attend at short notice because the opposition are throwing their toys out of the pram. Won't inspire a lot of confidence in the Americans will it. She may be useless but she is a high level rep pf the country whether we like it or not.


Only does a bit more to confirm my view that we know FF are not fit to run the country, but FG are not fit to run it either.

In your view would our pal Jay Leno have Enda on his show in the capacity that Brian was? Get real!

bijapos

bette wrote: »

In your view would our pal Jay Leno have Enda on his show in the capacity that Brian was? Get real!

You really need to explain what the hell Jay Leno has to do with the running of this country. In what way should I "get real!"

conor678

I'm in favor of this because any move to accelerate the removal of this inept FF government from power I think is a good one regardless of who will replace them. In my opinion a change in power is long over due.

With regards to Coughlin's proposed trip to the states in my opinion she has a track record for incompetence regarding business dealings and promoting Irish businesses.

My uncle was in a high position in a successful international Irish company and he met Mary Couglhlin at an international promotional conference for Irish business and I remember him telling me that he was shocked at the rudeness, lack of professionalism and general lack of knowledge coming from her mouth. So regarding to 'proposed promotion' of Irish jobs in the states I wouldn't have been to confident with her in charge.

RealityCheck

bijapos wrote: »

You really need to explain what the hell Jay Leno has to do with the running of this country. In what way should I "get real!"

I think they might be referring to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRZvERI5nf8&feature=player_embedded

91011

Ìts pure childishness by FG. And I'd bet they are the last ones looking for an election now with Labour on the rise - or maybe they think that whilst Cowen is leader of FF this it the one and only chance enda can make it to the top.

Thinking about it - this seems the most plausible reason.

Enda must be Taoiseach - to hell with getting the country moving again, (there is a lift in the past few months and money is starting to be spent again - we're seeing 1st annual turnover increase in 4 years) FG's one and only aim is for Enda to be Taoiseach and to show that he was right man all the time.

RealityCheck

91011 wrote: »

Ìts pure childishness by FG. And I'd bet they are the last ones looking for an election now with Labour on the rise - or maybe they think that whilst Cowen is leader of FF this it the one and only chance enda can make it to the top.

Thinking about it - this seems the most plausible reason.

Enda must be Taoiseach - to hell with getting the country moving again, (there is a lift in the past few months and money is starting to be spent again - we're seeing 1st annual turnover increase in 4 years) FG's one and only aim is for Enda to be Taoiseach and to show that he was right man all the time.

Well getting him as Taoiseach would be a start.

bijapos

RealityCheck wrote: »

I think they might be referring to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRZvERI5nf8&feature=player_embedded

I know what bette is referring to, I want to know what connection does a TV comedian showing a pic of Cowan have to do with the running of this country. Its political satire on Lenos part which is fair enough, what does it have to do with FG withdrawing its pairing system.

RealityCheck

bijapos wrote: »

I know what bette is referring to, I want to know what connection does a TV comedian showing a pic of Cowan have to do with the running of this country. Its political satire on Lenos part which is fair enough, what does it have to do with FG withdrawing its pairing system.

I think they're making the point that FG and Kenny would not be as incompetant as to make a moccery of themselves or the country in the same manner as Brian Cowen and FF have done. Hence no appearances on Jay Leno. :cool:

aine-maire

Le King wrote: »

But Labour are playing the popularity game with no real policies put on the table.

This myth has been going around for ages. It seems to be the default criticism of Labour at the moment and it's just not true.

This is a list of the 144 policy documents found on their website.

Feel free to criticise their policies, but at least acknowledge their existence.

Also, I dislike Enda Kenny. :mad:

Avns1s

91011 wrote: »

Ìts pure childishness by FG. And I'd bet they are the last ones looking for an election now with Labour on the rise - or maybe they think that whilst Cowen is leader of FF this it the one and only chance enda can make it to the top.

Thinking about it - this seems the most plausible reason.

Enda must be Taoiseach - to hell with getting the country moving again, (there is a lift in the past few months and money is starting to be spent again - we're seeing 1st annual turnover increase in 4 years) FG's one and only aim is for Enda to be Taoiseach and to show that he was right man all the time.

There is a band of people saying that FG lacks the balls to bring the government down and get themselves into government. There is only one way to do this, defeat the current shower in a vote. When they take steps to do this they are called all the names under the sun. You cant have it every way so decide!

There is no panic. FG knows that when the next election comes and it wont be too long even if the government runs it run term, they will have their leader as Taoiseach.

bamboozle

1-Mary Coughlan is Minister for Education (despite the numerous former teachers in cabinet)
2-Mary Coughlan has consistently proved she is inept.
3-Dail has been on holidays for 13 weeks, plenty of time to organise junkets.
4-Opposition need to step up their efforts to get rid of FF.

Dermot Ahern is speaking at the UN today, as far as i'm aware FG didnt pull the same stunt on him given the importance of his speech to the UN.
As Minister for Enterprise Coughlan was hopeless so lets not pretend as Minister for Education she's capable of bring jobs to this country.

was she planning on promoting Einstein's theory of evolution again?

Cookie_Monster

The whole pairing thing is nonsense anyway and should be gotten rid of. at least someone in the monkey house has finally stood up and done something about it.

dvpower

bamboozle wrote: »

1-Mary Coughlan is Minister for Education (despite the numerous former teachers in cabinet)
2-Mary Coughlan has consistently proved she is inept.
3-Dail has been on holidays for 13 weeks, plenty of time to organise junkets.
4-Opposition need to step up their efforts to get rid of FF.

Dermot Ahern is speaking at the UN today, as far as i'm aware FG didnt pull the same stunt on him given the importance of his speech to the UN.
As Minister for Enterprise Coughlan was hopeless so lets not pretend as Minister for Education she's capable of bring jobs to this country.

was she planning on promoting Einstein's theory of evolution again?

So the opposition are now going to decide what government business is important enough now?
That's not their job and they'll come to regret the decision to unilaterally tear down a system that worked well when their turn to be in government comes.

Petty in the extreme.

91011

bamboozle wrote: »

1-Mary Coughlan is Minister for Education (despite the numerous former teachers in cabinet)
2-Mary Coughlan has consistently proved she is inept.
3-Dail has been on holidays for 13 weeks, plenty of time to organise junkets.
4-Opposition need to step up their efforts to get rid of FF.

Dermot Ahern is speaking at the UN today, as far as i'm aware FG didnt pull the same stunt on him given the importance of his speech to the UN.
As Minister for Enterprise Coughlan was hopeless so lets not pretend as Minister for Education she's capable of bring jobs to this country.

was she planning on promoting Einstein's theory of evolution again?

I don't rate coughlan either and I'd be a classic roving voter having voted for FF FG Lab, pds & greens at some stage. Its the style of "throw the toys out if the pram" politics that Enda Kenny seems to have follwoed for quite a while whilst all the time Gilmore talks the talk and Lenihan continues his upbeat commentary. (it really is starting to work!). And all FG can do is tweet & moan at any & every opportunity. - They actually had / have an excellent welfare policy but seem to be afraid to shout about it - instead they think that maoning will get them further.



If Lenihan takes over at FF in early new year, then my money will be on FF/Lab with Lab holding at least 40% of canbinet positions.


Tip #1 to FG - talk & shout about your policies especially the better thought out ones, ignore the petty squabbling.

Tip #2 - get rid of Kenny NOW.

nuac

Pairing should be allowed for any event that may attract jobs or investment into this country. We need every job. every investment.

bamboozle

dvpower wrote: »

So the opposition are now going to decide what government business is important enough now?
That's not their job and they'll come to regret the decision to unilaterally tear down a system that worked well when their turn to be in government comes.

Petty in the extreme.

Surely the job of the opposition is to oppose what the govt is doing?

Dermot Ahern is in New York today speaking at the UN this wasnt opposed by FG, Coughlan having a junket organised for after a 13 week dail holiday is taking the p1ss. Cowan cancelled a trip to China to go on the lash in Galway 2 weeks ago, Dempsey had the govt jet take him to donegal and then to a top secret meeting on London early the next morning...still any announcements as to the benefit to the state that secret meeting resulted in.
If FF are so worried why dont the get Bertie to turn up and vote?

Cookie_Monster

Indo wrote:

Cabinet ministers strongly criticised the development, claiming Ms Coughlan's trip had been planned for up to eight months.

...

"That trip could have been taken any time during the last two to three months," he said.

He claimed that if Ms Coughlan missed this week's question session in the Dail, she would not be available again until November. He insisted she had to be "personally accountable to the Dail" and said he wanted to ask about three separate audits into FAS.

"She fixed the date for Wednesday for her questions, nobody else would have decided that," he added.

so she fixed the date for education questions on a date she knew she would be in the US and will not make herself available again until November. That's either stupid or ignorant on her behalf and they were right to call her on it.
:mad:

hallelujajordan

bamboozle wrote: »

Surely the job of the opposition is to oppose what the govt is doing?

Dermot Ahern is in New York today speaking at the UN this wasnt opposed by FG, Coughlan having a junket organised for after a 13 week dail holiday is taking the p1ss. Cowan cancelled a trip to China to go on the lash in Galway 2 weeks ago, Dempsey had the govt jet take him to donegal and then to a top secret meeting on London early the next morning...still any announcements as to the benefit to the state that secret meeting resulted in.
If FF are so worried why dont the get Bertie to turn up and vote?

The Dail don't sit on a Monday.

amiable

The political propoganda machines are in full swing this monday morning i see

jmayo

91011 wrote: »

I sincerely hope the report in today's Indo is untrue.

They claim FG are withdrawing pairing agreement with ministers on official business thus Mary Coughlan's cancellation of a jobs & edcation trip to the USA.

According to the report it part of Enda Kenny's new "get tough" image.

So FG are complaining about the jobs situation and then stop a minister going to meetings to try and get new investment?

No wonder we're all looking at the Labour Party.

FG have to get this fool out now.

Ah FFS mary c will bring back thousands of jobs, the trip will be as big a success as her and wee willie trip to Texas. :rolleyes:

Before you go off shouting about FG why don't you try and get a few facts right abotu this particular instance.

mary c was meant and scheduled to appear in the Dáil to answer questions regarding the internal reports in Fás and the EU audit of Fás.
This has been scheduled, but lo and behold she is then off on a trip to the US the very day she is supposed to answer to the people through the medium of our parliament.

So stop the sh**e.

They have been off from the Dáil for 12 weeks and in all that time the trip to the US could not have happened ?
The Dáil only sits for 3 days a week so why couldn't she organise that her engagements did not clash with the one day she meant to give explanations to the parliament ?

dvpower wrote: »

So the opposition are now going to decide what government business is important enough now?
That's not their job and they'll come to regret the decision to unilaterally tear down a system that worked well when their turn to be in government comes.

Petty in the extreme.

See above.

markpb

91011 wrote: »

to hell with getting the country moving again, (there is a lift in the past few months and money is starting to be spent again

Haha. Seriously, where do you get this stuff from? GDP is falling, unemployment is falling, government debt levels are rising, the cost of servicing the national debt is rising.

Zough

I bow to the superior knowledge of those contributing to this thread but I don't undersatnd why the Minister for Justice is speaking in the UN. Can someone explain?

ShumanTheHuman

If the three outstanding by elections had already occurred then this might be seen as churlish. They haven't so it doesn't

Euro_Kraut

dvpower wrote: »

So the opposition are now going to decide what government business is important enough now?
That's not their job and they'll come to regret the decision to unilaterally tear down a system that worked well when their turn to be in government comes.

Petty in the extreme.

If the Govt had a comfortable majoirty than there would be no issue here. As it stands this Government do not have democratic mandate and a refusing to hold by-elections.

FG are right on this one. What ever it takes this country needs an election. If the people decide FF are on the right track they will be re-elected and we will all have to accept what they are doing. However I suspect the Government will be voted out. FG/LAB will have to make the same tough decisions but at least they will have the democratic legitimacy to force them through.

Sir Oxman

Zough wrote: »

I bow to the superior knowledge of those contributing to this thread but I don't undersatnd why the Minister for Justice is speaking in the UN. Can someone explain?

It's Martin not Aherne.

whippet

forgetting about the pettyness of FG and O'Reilly's reasoning this morning that they have to use every opportunity to bring down the government (regardless of the reasoning) .... it begs the questions why can't TDs vote remotely if they are away on official business.

Debates can be streamed live and there are secure mechanisims for placing a vote on line.

jmayo

Zough wrote: »

I bow to the superior knowledge of those contributing to this thread but I don't undersatnd why the Minister for Justice is speaking in the UN. Can someone explain?

Maybe he is promoting his blasphemy legislation particularly to Muslim states ?

ShumanTheHuman wrote: »

If the three outstanding by elections had already occurred then this might be seen as churlish. They haven't so it doesn't

And here is the joke on the taxpayer, the government are going to court using taxpayer funds to prevent the issuing of the writs to hold those elections.

mikemac

bamboozle wrote: »

1
Dermot Ahern is speaking at the UN today,

Micheál Martin

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

The whole pairing thing is nonsense anyway and should be gotten rid of. at least someone in the monkey house has finally stood up and done something about it.

Not realy a nonsense.
You have todays example at the UN, maybe if the Minister for Defense was in some EU meeting on a rapid reaction taskforce or Minister for Agriculture negotiating schemes and payments for Ireland.
They are two examples of important meetings, pairing allows Ministers to attend these when an important vote is going on

johnnyskeleton

91011 wrote: »

I sincerely hope the report in today's Indo is untrue.

They claim FG are withdrawing pairing agreement with ministers on official business thus Mary Coughlan's cancellation of a jobs & edcation trip to the USA.

According to the report it part of Enda Kenny's new "get tough" image.

So FG are complaining about the jobs situation and then stop a minister going to meetings to try and get new investment?

No wonder we're all looking at the Labour Party.

FG have to get this fool out now.

1. The fact that some opposition candidates didn't show up for the NAMA vote i.e. Kenny wasn't there is a disgraceful system. For all the major votes, every politician should be in the chamber. In fact, all politicians should be in the chamber all the time while it is sitting, with none of this "oh I have to jet off to an important meeting in barbados" lark.

2. Seriously, do you think there is any benefit to Coughlan going to that meeting? It's just another jolly. They've been going to meetings like that in exotic locations for the last few years but nothing has come of it. They won't get jobs by talking about them, they will only get jobs by running the country properly.

MrDarcy

She is an idiot who should not be allowed to travel to talk to anyone.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0927/breaking15.html

Yet again the fundamental approach is all over the place and completely wrong.

Ms Coughlan said this morning the trip was intended to promote Ireland as a study destination for the Irish-American community and deliver “economic messages” to potential investors.

“We’re in a position to support and attract the calibre of graduates we wish to have in this country,” Ms Coughlan said. “There is a missed opportunity which is desperately unfortunate.


We already have enough graduates in this country, we don't need anymore shipped in, how about we stop trapsing all over the world on high cost junkets and use that money to support the "high calibre", graduates that are getting on planes out of the country every hour of every day down in Dublin Airport?!?!?!?!?


As for the delivery of "economic messages", to potential investors, don't waste your time, the more words uttered by members of this government, the higher the cost of borrowing becomes. If you want to send an "economic message", then write a piece for the Financial Times or put up on your blog or something, don't expect the rest of us here to pay out only Jasus know's what to ferry you over to the US so that you can stand up on a podium and sh*te on about something that you don't even understand.


In all seriousness where is the concept of value for money here and someone making fundamentally smart decisions?!?!? Why import "high calibre" graduates on one plane and then watch another plane on the same runway taking "high quality" graduates out of the country??? How much would it be to fly her over there??? You could pencil in 100K between her entourage, expenses, limo's to ferry her all over the place, accommodation and subsistance, etc. Does anyone have any idea how valuable that kind of money would be to new start up businesses at the moment??? You could probably set up ten small viable start up companies with that kind of money.


I wouldn't mind if she was at all useful but she is as inept as they come, every word that comes out of her mouth is utterly unconvincing, she should not have been allowed next nor near an economic brief, she's a social worker for Christ's sake, what in all seriousness would she know about creating job opportunities, she hasn't created a job in her life!

Liam Byrne

Fair play to FG for doing what the country needs at this time.

It's hilarious that those objecting to this tactic are the same ones who support Cowen "being petty" through refusing to hold the by-elections.

You guys might think that's "in the national interest".

I think FG's move is "in the national interest".

dvpower

bamboozle wrote: »

Surely the job of the opposition is to oppose what the govt is doing?

The job of the opposition is not to blindly oppose government. If that was the case they wouldn't have paired Micheál Martin

bamboozle wrote: »

Dermot Ahern is in New York today speaking at the UN this wasnt opposed by FG, Coughlan having a junket organised for after a 13 week dail holiday is taking the p1ss.

On what basis do you categorise this trip as a junket?

bamboozle wrote: »

Cowan cancelled a trip to China to go on the lash in Galway 2 weeks ago, Dempsey had the govt jet take him to donegal and then to a top secret meeting on London early the next morning...still any announcements as to the benefit to the state that secret meeting resulted in.
If FF are so worried why dont the get Bertie to turn up and vote?

^^ None of this is relevant.

dvpower

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

If the Govt had a comfortable majoirty than there would be no issue here. As it stands this Government do not have democratic mandate and a refusing to hold by-elections.

They do of course have a mandate. Have you forgotten the last general election. They will, of course, not retain the mandate following the next election.

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

FG are right on this one. What ever it takes this country needs an election.

This doesn't force an election. It just disrupts government business. Even if the government lose a vote, it doesn't trigger an election.
This is just playing games, and in the process, breaking a system that works.

dvpower

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

The whole pairing thing is nonsense anyway and should be gotten rid of. at least someone in the monkey house has finally stood up and done something about it.

How is pairing nonsense? I'm intrigued to know.

I always thought it was a practical arrangement designed to allow people to be absent for votes when there was either no good reaspon for them to be present or they had other important business to attend to.

Euro_Kraut

feelingstressed wrote: »

You have todays example at the UN, maybe if the Minister for Defense was in some EU meeting on a rapid reaction taskforce or Minister for Agriculture negotiating schemes and payments for Ireland.
They are two examples of important meetings, pairing allows Ministers to attend these when an important vote is going on

They are important and Minister will continue to be allowed to attend by the opposition. FG have specifically said that EU meeting will not be affected. Similarly UN meetings.

The Government are acting the maggot with the by-elections. No harm them to get a dose of their own medicine. If FG were clever they would call for a march on Dail Eireann demanding that the by-elections by held in the next 2 months (or just have a GE). This issue, Irish democracy, is the one that will bring all people together regardless of ideology. It will bring people together in a way that protests against cuts or NAMA never will.

bleg

It's absolutely disgraceful that the by elections won't be held because the ruling parties are afraid of losing power. This isn't Zimbabwe.

Mary Couglan is inpept. She's a useless Minister and I'm glad she won't get chance to embarrass us on a state visit. She's just annoyed that she's missing out on a junket.

bamboozle

dvpower wrote: »

The job of the opposition is not to blindly oppose government. If that was the case they wouldn't have paired Micheál Martin


On what basis do you categorise this trip as a junket?


^^ None of this is relevant.

where did i say the job of opposition was to blindly oppose?
It would be a lavish & highly expensive trip with little end product, that to me is a junket.
All of it is relevent in my eyes, FF pick and choose when to attend & diarise these foreign trips, Bertie Ahern has a vote but he's not to be seen in Dail Eireann these days, Dempsey's secret trip to London was yet another example of hugely expenive trips by our ministers at tax payers expense with no end product. Coughlan in her lifetime as a TD & minister has arguabely done little with end product so i doubt a trip to America would be productive for the state.

Cookie_Monster

dvpower wrote: »

How is pairing nonsense? I'm intrigued to know.

I always thought it was a practical arrangement designed to allow people to be absent for votes when there was either no good reaspon for them to be present or they had other important business to attend to.

its undemocratic and in this day and age of technology is outdated. why should a TD lose his or her vote just because someone else cannot attend or plan their junkets for non-Dail days? The whole party block voting is undemocratic but that's another argument for a different thread.

91011

markpb wrote: »

Haha. Seriously, where do you get this stuff from? GDP is falling, unemployment is falling, government debt levels are rising, the cost of servicing the national debt is rising.

I get it from my business (quite small, but pays the bills) - 2 of which have seen good growth in the past 3 months resulting in one extra full time position and a new part time (20hr) person starts next week. - Both positions filled by people who were claiming unemployment assistance.

dvpower

bamboozle wrote: »

where did i say the job of opposition was to blindly oppose?
It would be a lavish & highly expensive trip with little end product, that to me is a junket.

So you just oppose this particular trip, right on the basis that it is lavish [how so?] and with little end product [how so?].

But the trip is going ahead. Cancelling the pairing arrangement hasn't made a blind bit of difference to that. We still pay the same price for the trip, it just gets downgraded from a ministrial visit to an officials visit (with a civil servant replacing the Minister).

How forcing the cancellation of this trip is a good idea is beyond me. I could half understand if FG where to withdraw future pairing arrangements, without effecting currently planned trips, but this is just unprofessional.

Euro_Kraut

Ruairí Quinn has just said Radio 1 that he will enter an agreement with Mary Coughlan to allow her to attend this particular event.

johngalway

91011 wrote: »

I sincerely hope the report in today's Indo is untrue.

They claim FG are withdrawing pairing agreement with ministers on official business thus Mary Coughlan's cancellation of a jobs & edcation trip to the USA.

According to the report it part of Enda Kenny's new "get tough" image.

So FG are complaining about the jobs situation and then stop a minister going to meetings to try and get new investment?

No wonder we're all looking at the Labour Party.

FG have to get this fool out now.

Rubbish.

Get that FF shower out of office NOW. They and their friends have destroyed this country, brought us as low as the debates are now concerning our sovereignty and bringing in IMF.

Quinn from Labour was in radio just now saying he'd facilitate the Govt going ahead with the trip. So Labour are now in effect supporting this FF Govt. If the opposition are to support the Govt every high tide they decide to head off somewhere we'll be stuck with this incompetent FF shower indefinitely.

Fair play to FG for having the balls to say enough is enough. Apparently they are to move the writs on the three by elections this or next week. I would be absolutely delighted to see the back of those FFers for a very long time.

dvpower

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

its undemocratic and in this day and age of technology is outdated. why should a TD lose his or her vote just because someone else cannot attend or plan their junkets for non-Dail days? The whole party block voting is undemocratic but that's another argument for a different thread.

Government couldn't operate without this arrangement, especially where the government has a slim majority. To withdraw it would be anti democratic because it would prevent TDs from going about their democratic business (like attending EU meetings, speaking at the UN, leading trade delagations, indeed attending any meeting outside of Dublin on a sitting day). Only a portion of a TDs work takes place in Lenister House.

Anyway, FG are not withdrawing pairing on the basis that it is undemocratic (and, no doubt, they will be availing of it in the next government).

dvpower

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

Ruairí Quinn has just said Radio 1 that he will enter an agreement with Mary Coughlan to allow her to attend this particular event.

Common sense prevails.

pumpkinsoup

johngalway wrote: »

Quinn from Labour was in radio just now saying he'd facilitate the Govt going ahead with the trip. So Labour are now in effect supporting this FF Govt. If the opposition are to support the Govt every high tide they decide to head off somewhere we'll be stuck with this incompetent FF shower indefinitely.

No, this is an excellent piece of political uptstaging by Ruairi Quinn. His move makes the FG approach look seriously petty. Quinn recognises that FG are the real opposition in the next election. Why pick a fight with FF when you've already beaten them.