MID MORNING ON a Tuesday when the entire Cabinet was in its last weekly meeting before the much anticipated announcement of a full reshuffle — as good a time as any to schedule a quick press op on the Plinth at Leinster House, thought Fianna Fáil.
The party are very concerned indeed, you see, about the lack of clarity from the Government on the issue of the Free Travel Pass.
Over 65s are extremely worried about the ongoing review of the scheme, Willie O’Dea said, as he was joined at the microphones by Timmy Dooley TD, Senator Averil Power, and (representing the grey vote) Senator Mary White.
Ministers Burton and Varadkar (or, given that nothing is ‘set set’ in terms of the reshuffle — whoever’s helming the Social Protection and Transport departments in a few weeks’ time) are due to be given the results of the ongoing review of the free travel scheme shortly.
However, both have been pretty clear on the issue in recent weeks — with Burton saying she doesn’t envisage any changes to the benefits.
Surely that’s good enough for Deputy O’Dea?
Well… Nope.
Not by a long shot.
Fianna Fáil have tabled a motion calling for the immediate suspension of the review.
And, as the rainclouds loomed over what would end up being a truncated chat with the nation’s media — here’s what he had to say about the Minister…
“We’re trying to get an assurance [...] tomorrow night either that the review will be abandoned or that the various proposals in the review will not be proceeded with by this Government.
Joan Burton has said that she intends that the party she now leads will govern more with the heart as with the head for the next 18 months. We’re now giving her an opportunity to demonstrate that.
There was a lot of nodding from Senator White as O’Dea continued with his gambit — but, as the doorstep continued, it soon became clear that the great Ceann Comhairle in the sky was about to call a halt to the party’s speaking time.
If only Senator Power had brought a bigger umbrella…
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