mrsbyrne wrote: » I appreciate that for many "coming out" is a huge thing. Especially for teenagers. I imagine its like letting a genie out of a bottle that just cant be put back in. But in 2015 its a tiny tiny little bit like getting engaged, or announcing at work that your pregnant. The general reaction is "Oh well ..good for you..do you know where the key to the filing cabinet is?". Folk wish you well but it doesn't impact on them in any way so its just not important to them. Your all het up about your big announcement and theres almost an anti-climax when Mary in accounts doesn’t faint clean away on the floor and Paddy in post doesn’t burst into tears. In my opinion we in Ireland are in various stages of readjustment regarding social issues like this. General “society” for want of a better word has adjusted like 95% to totally accepting homosexuality. I think there are far, far more problems with racism for example, then homophobia. With racism and xenophobia we might as well be in 1950s Alabama. However it does seem that the Gay Community are as a result have to now stop expecting people to be shocked or uncomfortable and try to stop looking for homophobia and maybe some need to get a sense of humour? Nobodies saying that the suffering of the past didn’t happen. It did. Its just , maybe, like the Troubles in N Ireland it might be time to start moving forward abit. I think what made this announcement newsworthy was not the fact that Varadker is gay, but that he was comfortable enough to drop it casually into the conversation on what used to be Radio Eireann. Changed times indeed.
Dan_Solo wrote: » No actually, there aren't. His orientation has no bearing at all on his opinion on the upcoming referendum or anything else for that matter. Why would it?
floggg wrote: » In his own words, he did it partly so that when somebody asks him why he is campaigning for a yes vote he can telly them honestly and freely its because he wishes to be treated equally in his own country. Whether he does it now or when campaigning for a yes (which he intended to do), he will have to "out" himself in order to give that answer, and its better he does so now instead of making the referendum about him.
smash wrote: » All this stuff about him going to be Ireland's first gay Taoiseach.... Sure Fiana Gael wont be in power after next wear anyway
DeadHand wrote: » Leo Varadker is also something much rarer than an openly gay politician- an Irish politician I admire. While I look forward to a day when a person's bedroom preferences are seen for what they truly are (an irrelevance), in this time and this place in his position, Varadker's revelation did take courage. Varadker sometimes seems to me like a man too good for the for the often shameful world of Irish politics. His already solid reputation for commonsense and honesty has been enhanced by this in my eyes. Definite future Taoiseach.
Dan_Solo wrote: » These are contradictory. On one hand you are saying it is because "he wishes to be treated equally" and then on the other you say he shouldn't be "making the referendum about him." Can't he just campaign because it is right? It would do more damage to the No camp IMO to have them harass Varadkar over his own sexuality if he didn't come out.
Anita Blow wrote: » Also, for someone who is apparently trying to sweep the A&E Trolley crisis under the carpet, he's been doing a piss poor job. the guy has been tweeting every day the trolley count since the crisis peaked. Was down around 120 yesterday I believe
It is true that certain media organisations have been itching to “out” him. Queries were regularly submitted to his department seeking information about his personal life. Certain photographers were keeping an eye on his movements.
seamus wrote: » We've a health service that's been a shambles since the 80s and an intractable HSE that has been incapable of reform in ten years. And people are lambasting Leo for being unable to single-handedly turn it around in six months. :rolleyes: Irish people are hilarious. The appointment to Health was a political move by Kenny to damage the reputation of someone he saw as a contender for the throne. Reilly being the deputy leader, Kenny wanted to make sure that he didn't finish his term in Government on a bum note. It's possible that this was a well-timed move on Varadkar's part to give him a front-and-centre seat in the run up to the SSM referendum and ride that wave of success into the next GE.
Joeytheparrot wrote: » Of course it does. He is personally affected!
Dan_Solo wrote: » As to whether Yes or No is the right way to vote "it affects me" is a pretty crappy platform to campaign on TBH.
catallus wrote: » I still can't believe the guy is only 36 :mad: I'm bitter, I am!
Joeytheparrot wrote: » Thats your opinion. I take politicians seriously when they are talking about something they are personally affected by and something they actually understand rather than something abstract.
Dan_Solo wrote: » "I'm campaigning for these tax cuts and pay raise as it makes me money." So you'll be backing politicians who say this then?
Dan_Solo wrote: » He been tweeting since it peaked. Now that's PR for you.
floggg wrote: » :rolleyes: Ignoring the incredibly stretched comparison there, since when did taking somebody seriously mean "unquestioned acceptance and agreement".
Anita Blow wrote: » We've had the trolley issue for years. Has any other minister communicated trolley counts on a daily basis? If he didn't acknowledge it on a daily basis I'm sure you'd be complaining that he's avoiding the issue. The reality is that the health minister doesn't deal with the day-to-day running of the health system. That's the responsibility of the HSE.
The Cunning Linguist wrote: » Fair play to him.
Dan_Solo wrote: » You've missed the meaning utterly. Was he tweeting trolley counts as they were rising or just when they were falling? Do you accept the difference?
troched wrote: » Just wondering why this post is not post of the day, when it has 321 thanks compared to the awarded potd with 71? I recall TCL's post having 140+ thanks yesterday so it's not a matter of M.T. Cranium getting more on the day.
mrsbyrne wrote: » I don't want to see any couples "wearing" the face of one another in public in the middle of the day. It's disgusting.
Dan_Solo wrote: » No mental gymnastics required at all, unless you think the amount of money an individual has isn't of personal interest to them? Odd. If there is no automatic movement to agree based on personal importance to the politician, then what difference does it make that this issue is of personal importance to Varadkar? You agree with him so you agree with him? And?
Anita Blow wrote: » I understood your point completely, actually. Why would he tweet about trolley counts when they were rising? First of all, it's Winter which always has much higher ED admissions relative to the rest of the year so a rising figure isn't abnormal. €25 million was also provided to the HSE just before Christmas to deal with the trolley count, so he had further reason not to believe this Christmas would be any worse than previous years. When it became abnormal and peaked above previous records, he then addressed the issue publicly and has since been communicating on a daily basis how the issue is being resolved. What else do you think he should have done?
Anita Blow wrote: » Nevermind the fact that variations in the number of people on trolleys isn't necessarily his remit. The HSE runs the health system, he sets the budget and policy. He allocated €25 million extra to deal with this specific issue. Anything beyond that, it is up to the HSE to allocate those resources appropriately to reduce trolley numbers.
floggg wrote: » Tax rate affect everybody
