Mr Martin and the Shamrock fiasco

Scoondal · 29-01-2021 11:46am #1

Mr Martin's ego trip to Washington on St. Patrick's Day will most likely not go ahead.
There would be a massive public backlash against him.
It just shows how out of touch the government is with the mood of Irish people.

suicide_circus · 29-01-2021 11:53am

But our leaders always fellate the US President on Paddy's Day!

ArmaniJeanss · 29-01-2021 11:58am

suicide_circus wrote: »

But our leaders always fellate the US President on Paddy's Day!

Or, you know, every year we have a historically guaranteed face-to-face meeting with the President/Speaker/House leaders that a lot of small countries in the world would kill for.

Pauliedragon · 29-01-2021 12:00pm

But sure Biden is Irish isn't he? He'll look after us no we need to be polite and visit him. He'll have covid gone and our economy back to normal in no time.

PhilOssophy · 29-01-2021 12:01pm

Fiasco? Where? What?

1st I've heard of anything about it?

suicide_circus · 29-01-2021 12:03pm

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Or, you know, every year we have a historically guaranteed face-to-face meeting with the President/Speaker/House leaders that a lot of small countries in the world would kill for.

I never said there wasnt a return...

thelad95 · 29-01-2021 12:05pm

I don't think Mehole realises how much of a political own goal it would be for him to piss off to the States at a time when Irish citizens who are legally in the States on various work visas cannot return home to Ireland as they won't be able to return.

All to bring a bowl of Shamrock to Joseph "begorrah I am from Mayo" Biden.

Especially considering how much Leo's visit ended up being extremely short sighted last year, having to tell thousands of business owners that they would be closed for the foreseeable future, in his pyjamas from the White House. Leo should have made his excuses and travelled home straight away once it became clear how bad the situation was.

29-01-2021 12:07pm

i doubt any irish politian is so out of touch,

That they choose to go ahead with this.

29-01-2021 12:08pm

Seriously ill advised, this will not go down well with the public and there will be a spike after us getting things under control.

They should do a web call with our ambassador handing over the bowl of shamrocks. On the we call they can bring in Irish business leaders and showcase the greenlit sights.

As Taoiseach his primary role right now is to lead by example so needs to stay on the island where necessary.

Allinall · 29-01-2021 12:08pm

Scoondal wrote: »

Mr Martin's ego trip to Washington on St. Patrick's Day will most likely not go ahead.
There would be a massive public backlash against him.
It just shows how out of touch the government is with the mood of Irish people.

Does not compute.

Are you saying he should go?

I'm confused.

afatbollix · 29-01-2021 12:09pm

I hope they use the new Chinese anal swabs to test for Cvoid when he comes back into the country.

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210128/china-using-anal-swabs-for-covid-testing

Shaming people for flying when he's off to the worst country in the world for cases and deaths.

29-01-2021 12:10pm

"We're all in this together, except when it suits me". Return that bowl of shamrock to the sod and send out a message to the Irish people that MM can lead by example. Practice what you preach or your credibility is down the tubes.

knucklehead6 · 29-01-2021 12:13pm

Allinall wrote: »

Does not compute.

Are you saying he should go?

I'm confused.

hashtag me too and all that.

If he doesn't go it can only be a good thing and showing he's IN touch?

29-01-2021 12:14pm

Scoondal wrote: »

Mr Martin's ego trip to Washington on St. Patrick's Day will most likely not go ahead.
There would be a massive public backlash against him.
It just shows how out of touch the government is with the mood of Irish people.

Do you have a reliable source for your claim?

Allinall · 29-01-2021 12:15pm

Scoondal wrote: »

Mr Martin's ego trip to Washington on St. Patrick's Day will most likely not go ahead.
There would be a massive public backlash against him.
It just shows how out of touch the government is with the mood of Irish people.

Scoondal wrote: »

I'm booked for Lanzarote at Easter.
My accomodation is paid for and non-refundable. If the flight is going, we are on it. If we need tests, I think things will be more streamlined by then.
I booked it on 28 November when things were looking good. I have travel insurance.
Nothing is certain in life ... we have to learn to roll with the punches.

Hypocrisy of the highest order.

bocaman · 29-01-2021 12:17pm

This is a terrible decision on the part of the Taoiseach. What kind of signal will it send out to people who've obeyed lockdown rules? A vanity trip. If Joe Biden loves Ireland as much as he says he does this trip, to court and help promote all thing Irish, is unnecessary.

Scoondal · 29-01-2021 12:22pm

Allinall wrote: »

Does not compute.

Are you saying he should go?

I'm confused.

Sorry, I meant he shows that he is out of touch with a lot of people by planning to go and not realising his hypocrisy.

29-01-2021 12:24pm

Scoondal wrote: »

Sorry, I meant he shows that he is out of touch with a lot of people by planning to go and not realising his hypocrisy.

Where has it been officially announced that he is actually going?

Sconsey · 29-01-2021 12:30pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Do you have a reliable source for your claim?

Shinner-bot's don't need sources.

Actuall that was mean, no evidence OP is a shinner-bot, I take it backl.

French Toast · 29-01-2021 12:32pm

One rule for them, another for us.

But it'll be grand. They'll re-run that poetry-slam style nonsense after the Six One to remind us we're all in this together or some other shíte.

29-01-2021 12:38pm

Scoondal wrote: »

Mr Martin's ego trip to Washington on St. Patrick's Day will most likely not go ahead.
There would be a massive public backlash against him.
It just shows how out of touch the government is with the mood of Irish people.

The is effectively pre-outrage. A new type of outrage. Outrage before something happens and something that is unlikely to happen as well. You even say it is unlikely to happen.

FrancieBrady · 29-01-2021 12:39pm

Funny the way they do business these days, like something out of Dad's Army, with some sap pushed out of the bunker to see if the coast is clear.

Poor Paschal drew the short straw this time, to go on media and announce that he thinks Micheál should go...meanwhile back in the bunker they are doubtless sampling public opinion and sitting down analysing it before a decision.

Needs an Oliver Callan sketch with Micheál ironing his underpants and folding them into a suitcase in the background.

mrpdap · 29-01-2021 12:40pm

Scoondal wrote: »

Mr Martin's ego trip to Washington on St. Patrick's Day will most likely not go ahead.
There would be a massive public backlash against him.
It just shows how out of touch the government is with the mood of Irish people.

Has he said he’s going?

29-01-2021 12:40pm

bocaman wrote: »

This is a terrible decision on the part of the Taoiseach. What kind of signal will it send out to people who've obeyed lockdown rules? A vanity trip. If Joe Biden loves Ireland as much as he says he does this trip, to court and help promote all thing Irish, is unnecessary.

No decision yet. Moar pre outrage.

PhilOssophy · 29-01-2021 12:40pm

Deleted User wrote: »

The is effectively pre-outrage. A new type of outrage. Outrage before something happens and something that is unlikely to happen as well. You even say it is unlikely to happen.

Pre outrage or faux outrage considering he has a holiday to Lanzarote booked himself!

HBC08 · 29-01-2021 12:41pm

Allinall wrote: »

Hypocrisy of the highest order.

Ouch! Badly caught out there
Oh dear.

29-01-2021 12:43pm

Brian O'Donovan can be our Special Envoy until COVID passes.

29-01-2021 12:43pm

Do people realise how much is spent highlighting Ireland at Paddy's day? We pay countries to put green lights if their buildings and dye in their water ffs!

Biden hsvibg Irish ancestry is a bonus that should be exploited so that when we reopen and when we have a Paddy's day it can be used to it's absolute maximum because the fight for tourism dollars will be even bigger

29-01-2021 12:44pm

Set up a zoom call. Send the shamrock by post. Have the Irish ambassador at the other end to hand it over. Biden will turn up, he seems genuinely interested in the country.

( The Queen meets with new Ambassadors like that. They still come to Buckingham Palace via the standard gold carriage that is used for new ambassadors, but she is in a different room and the audience is over some video link).

Paddigol · 29-01-2021 12:52pm

I would just like to say I'm outraged. I'm not sure exactly why, or about what. But I'm definitely outraged. And once the mob forms I'll definitely join and echo all of their arguments. I should run the country because I can form an opinion about anything very quickly. And sure as long as most other people who also have a propensity for being outraged at the drop of a hat agree with me, sure what else is required. But I have a holiday and flights booked for a few months time, so I'll need time off for that. I'm also going to sneak off to meet up my friends and family for non-socially distanced coffee from time-to-time. And I'm going to drive the family 20k or so to Phoenix Park for a day out at the weekend. But sure, what harm. Its not like there'll be any journos or photographers or curtain twitchers who recognise me. I'll be outraged when I'm there though. Sure it's all a disgrace like. We should close the borders and get Zero Covid. Except for my holiers obviously. Shower of incompetents.

For Forks Sake · 29-01-2021 12:56pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Where has it been officially announced that he is actually going?

It hasn't (and I doubt it will), but never let that stop them being outraged just in case.

This must be the new catchprase for the same people that were shouting "Shut The Borders" for the past week until they got put in their place by everyone pointing out that their soundbite was absolutely unworkable

show me the money.1 · 29-01-2021 1:02pm

I think he should go to promote Ireland. US citizens like us are looking at where they will go on holidays when covid is all over it is a great opportunity to promote the island.

Also to show we are still open for business plenty American company's paying big wages and employing people on this island.

And it would be good to get to meet Mr Biden before Boris does.

blanch152 · 29-01-2021 1:04pm

show me the money.1 wrote: »

I think he should go to promote Ireland. US citizens like us are looking at where they will go on holidays when covid is all over it is a great opportunity to promote the island.

Also to show we are still open for business plenty American company's paying big wages and employing people on this island.

And it would be good to get to meet Mr Biden before Boris does.

Absolutely correct.

Travel for essential business purposes is allowed. There is nothing more essential to Ireland's future economic success than ensuring that FDI continues in a post-Covid world where retrenchment and nationalism are bound to become more prominent.

FrancieBrady · 29-01-2021 1:13pm

blanch152 wrote: »

Absolutely correct.

Travel for essential business purposes is allowed. There is nothing more essential to Ireland's future economic success than ensuring that FDI continues in a post-Covid world where retrenchment and nationalism are bound to become more prominent.

So meet him before big bad Boris does. Get one up on de Brits

'Absolutely Correct' you say.

'retrenchment' 'Nationalism' you say.

29-01-2021 1:17pm

blanch152 wrote: »

Absolutely correct.

Travel for essential business purposes is allowed. There is nothing more essential to Ireland's future economic success than ensuring that FDI continues in a post-Covid world where retrenchment and nationalism are bound to become more prominent.

How deos coronavirus know how to differenitate between essential business and a holiday?

HBC08 · 29-01-2021 1:23pm

This is a tough one.

I dont think Irish people realise the huge opportunity we have every year to get the ear of the most powerful man in the world. Not many other countries and certainly none our size have this regular and guarenteed set up.
If Trump had won then the trip would be less important,it was obvious he wasn't interested.
Biden on the other hand has nailed his colours to the mast,this year could have been the most important st Patrick's day visit in a generation.

My own opinion is it won't happen,the optics certainly wouldn't look good.The mob are already pre outraged as pointed out on this thread.There is a seemingly growing cohort (probably mostly online) who are incapable of thinking things through and don't know what pragmatism is.

A Shaved Duck? · 29-01-2021 1:37pm

HBC08 wrote: »

This is a tough one.

I dont think Irish people realise the huge opportunity we have every year to get the ear of the most powerful man in the world. Not many other countries and certainly none our size have this regular and guarenteed set up.
If Trump had won then the trip would be less important,it was obvious he wasn't interested.
Biden on the other hand has nailed his colours to the mast,this year could have been the most important st Patrick's day visit in a generation.

My own opinion is it won't happen,the optics certainly wouldn't look good.The mob are already pre outraged as pointed out on this thread.There is a seemingly growing cohort (probably mostly online) who are incapable of thinking things through and don't know what pragmatism is.

Its not tough, he should not go.

A jolly for a lad that is job sharing the Taoiseach's office should be so far down the list of activities right now its incredible to think its even on the agenda.

FrancieBrady · 29-01-2021 1:39pm

They'll be called out even more on this if he goes. 'We are not really all in this together'

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/plan-what-plan-government-has-lost-the-public-by-not-following-their-own-rules-40025130.html

Thelonious Monk · 29-01-2021 1:43pm

I really hate all this we should be so lucky that they allow us to visit them once a year, oh ye great American masters. Please give us some more money!
The OP may have booked a flight but he's not supposed to be setting an example for anyone.
Joe will visit here either way so I think we're all good with this administration anyway.

Get Real · 29-01-2021 1:47pm

No issue with him going tbh. People treat it every year as if the Taoiseach is off on a lads weekend.

It's more a getting up early, being ferried to numerous places you may not want to go, making connections and listening to sh1te when you might just want to be at home in Ireland watching Netflix after your day at the Dáil.

By going, physical meetings are much more influential, and it's at such a crucial moment, given Brexit, and Bidens views on the good Friday agreement.

It's also at a time when America has to decide on its future economic ties. Will they be UK or EU based? And if EU based, how can we get a word in for ourselves.

To think someone would pass up on an opportunity to sit down with the president of the USA, build rapport, and sell Ireland as the perfect place with access to the UK and EU, all because of people on twitter begrudging him a flight abroad.

Same people always ask in hindsight "could we have done more, why didn't Ireland sell itself more" etc.

CrazyFather1 · 29-01-2021 1:52pm

Scoondal wrote: »

Mr Martin's ego trip to Washington on St. Patrick's Day will most likely not go ahead.
There would be a massive public backlash against him.
It just shows how out of touch the government is with the mood of Irish people.

Where has this been confirmed?

HBC08 · 29-01-2021 2:09pm

A Shaved Duck? wrote: »

Its not tough, he should not go.

A jolly for a lad that is job sharing the Taoiseach's office should be so far down the list of activities right now its incredible to think its even on the agenda.

This is a good example of the clueless sh1tetalk I was alluding to.

29-01-2021 2:12pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I really hate all this we should be so lucky that they allow us to visit them once a year, oh ye great American masters. Please give us some more money!

Between this and the dragging every forgien dignatry to the guiness factory for a photo op are most embarassing thing about the country.....a real inferiority complex as a country going on

Doctors room ghost · 29-01-2021 2:18pm

Allinall wrote: »

Hypocrisy of the highest order.

You couldn’t make it up.fcuk sake

Allinall · 29-01-2021 2:20pm

A Shaved Duck? wrote: »

Its not tough, he should not go.

A jolly for a lad that is job sharing the Taoiseach's office should be so far down the list of activities right now its incredible to think its even on the agenda.

How do you figure it would be a jolly?

blanch152 · 29-01-2021 2:23pm

Deleted User wrote: »

How deos coronavirus know how to differenitate between essential business and a holiday?

It doesn't, but some risks are justifiable, some are not.

You cannot eliminate risk, you can only manage it. That requires judgement calls on what is essential business and what is not.

We have already seen Philip Nolan and Tony Holohan advise that it is not possible to close the borders and that it will not work.

In that context, a trip by Martin to Washington for St.Patrick's Day is important enough to be worth the risk.

stoneill · 29-01-2021 2:24pm

Do we not have an Ambassador for this sort of stuff?

29-01-2021 2:24pm

blanch152 wrote: »

It doesn't, but some risks are justifiable, some are not.

You cannot eliminate risk, you can only manage it. That requires judgement calls on what is essential business and what is not.

We have already seen Philip Nolan and Tony Holohan advise that it is not possible to close the borders and that it will not work.

In that context, a trip by Martin to Washington for St.Patrick's Day is important enough to be worth the risk.

Should he quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the US and 14 days upon return to ireland??

Serious double standreds otherwise

What has the annual st patricks day trip,yielded for ireland in the last 8 years? (Other than embarassment of handing over a bowl of shamrocks)

blanch152 · 29-01-2021 2:27pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Should he quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the US and 14 days upon return to ireland??

Serious double standreds otherwise

What has the annual st patricks day trip,yielded for ireland in the last 8 years?

An awful lot. There has been huge American pressure on the UK over Northern Ireland and Brexit. The visits of successive Taoisigh to Washington has played a huge role in ensuring that support for Ireland.

That is before you look at the FDI effect.

29-01-2021 2:30pm

blanch152 wrote: »

An awful lot. There has been huge American pressure on the UK over Northern Ireland and Brexit. The visits of successive Taoisigh to Washington has played a huge role in ensuring that support for Ireland.

That is before you look at the FDI effect.

Ultimately the uk buckled under the weight of the eu,im at a loss to see what trump done for ireland in last 4 years,or obama in the 4 before that

What has it actually achieved in measurable terms??

From what i can see its zero anyway.....what US (or any country) company or fdi has cited seeing us handing out bowls of shamrock as the vital link in making decision to move here??

Should martin quaramtine for 14 days upon arrival in and 14 days upon return from the US or is he immune to covid and spreading it?

CrazyFather1 · 29-01-2021 2:39pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Ultimately the uk buckled under the weight of the eu,im at a loss to see what trump done for ireland in last 4 years,or obama in the 4 before that

What has it actually achieved in measurable terms??

From what i can see its zero anyway.....what US (or any country) company or fdi has cited seeing us handing out bowls of shamrock as the vital link in making decision to move here??

Should martin quaramtine for 14 days upon arrival in and 14 days upon return from the US or is he immune to covid and spreading it?

He shouldn't go
If he is does he should quarantine
But he hasn't even said he is going so it's a mute point isn't it?

Mr Martin and the Shamrock fiasco

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