THE ANGER OF people in Ireland today is best told through the words of callers to RTÉ radio’s Liveline this afternoon.
It’s been an eventful day in the Irish political sphere, beginning with a ministerial resignation from Dara Calleary this morning. A slew of apologies and party whip removals have followed as the day progressed.
Last night, the Irish Examiner first reported that 81 people attended an Oireachtas Golf Society event in Clifden, Co Galway on Wednesday. Stricter public health measures had been imposed by government the day before.
Several politicians and senior members of society attended the event, including Calleary, EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan and several senators and Supreme Court judge Seamus Woulfe.
The Examiner alleged that up to 10 people were seated at each table.
The event appears to have breached public health guidelines, which state that no events, parties or gatherings involving more than six people should be held indoors. Gardaí are investigating the incident.
The story has even generated coverage abroad in the New York Times, the Guardian and the BBC among other publications.
James Charity, an independent councillor, earlier said it was arrogant for people to attend the event the day after new restrictions were introduced, adding it “smacks of ‘one rule for them and another for us’”.
“I am appalled to see the good name of our county once again dragged into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons by the antics of a Fianna Fáil government and one of its ministers,” Charity said.
This sentiment was echoed by callers to RTÉ’s Liveline this afternoon.
Veronica from Galway was the first Liveline caller. Her brother-in-law passed away in recent months and she was unable to physically attend his funeral.
“I sat outside the church… and I sat in the car and waited there. I couldn’t go into the church and be with my sister and family,” she said.
“I am livid at this and I cannot put it into words how angry I am. These are the people that are supposed to be representing us on the ground.
“My biggest issue is with the people who went in there and had no thought for the welfare of the people in the country,” Vernonica added.
57-year-old Thomas was also personally affected by Covid-19 restrictions. His mother died in March and his family was unable to hold regular funeral proceedings.
“She literally died on her own in a nursing home, no one around her, no family. I’m still suffering every day thinking of this and it just enrages me. These people need to sit up and listen to the people of Ireland.
“I am just in total shock here… I’m disgusted,” he said upon learning of last Wednesday’s event.
There [were] 12 people at my mother’s funeral, and it wasn’t even a funeral. We all just stood in the graveyard, waited until the coffin was in the ground and looked on.
“I couldn’t even hug my sister, my brother.
“Every one of them that was there should go… I listen to my bosses in work, why can’t they listen to their boss?”
“All the apologies in the world won’t help it.”
Another caller, Paddy, described the incident as a “thundering disgrace”.
A later caller named Bernie cited his comment and added: “I am saying it’s a thundering and lightning disgrace for the behaviour of our public representatives.”
She said she was “angry” and “frustrated” with the recent revelations.
Political response
Today, politicians who were not in attendance took to Twitter and the airwaves to express their disappointment and anger.
In a statement on Twitter, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the event should not have been held.
“Funerals, christenings, weddings, family holidays and other really important family occasions have been foregone to protect each other and the most vulnerable,” he said.
“As representatives we should lead by example.”
As party leader he removed the Fine Gael whip from Senators Jerry Buttimer, Paddy Burke and John Cummins after they attended the event. All three senators apologised.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris also condemned politicians’ attendance at the event.
The former Health Minister wrote on Twitter: “We have all worked so hard for so long. People have sacrificed so much. I am struggling to put words on how shocking & upsetting I find what has happened.”
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin earlier today removed the Fianna Fáil party whip from Senators Paul Daly, Aidan Davitt and Niall Blaney after they attended the function
Fine Gael Senator and leader of the Seanad Regina Doherty called the event a “stunning lapse of judgement” and called on Phil Hogan to apologise to the public for attending.
“The very least that needs to be done is a recognition that it was wrong and it shouldn’t have happened,” she told RTÉ radio. “What I would love to see is an apology.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sarah McInerney, Dr Gabriel Scally said he was “shocked” politicians and other senior figures in society attended the event.
Scally is the President of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Royal Society of Medicine.
I’m very shocked. I think it’s a terrible event and I’m very saddened because the battle against Covid-19 in Ireland has, until very recent times, been going extraordinarily well.
“The message it gives out is ‘do as we say, not as we do’, and that’s not good enough for public leaders. No matter what post they hold in civil society, whether it’s an elected post or an appointed post like a judge, this is absolutely wrong.”
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All off us working hard though this paying taxes get notting great
@john: “Upheaval”. Don’t get me started. Imagine the upheaval of all those who lost jobs still trying to balance a mortgage and family. Peak FG vote buying nonsense.
@john: you get a wage and most likely spend the same amount per month on mortgages, food, loan repayments whatever your circumstances are….this is clever as the students are unlikly to save it. They will spend it immediately in bars restaurants and shops boosting trade, it’s a business stimulus package poorly explained.
@john: these students would usually have worked in bars and hotels at weekends and throughout the Christmas period. That’s all gone, and you now want their lives to be even harsher? So much for “we’re all in this together.” And then people wonder why I’m getting sick to my back teeth of the typical Irish attitude of “kick ‘em when they’re down” and “let’s stab them in the back.” John, you are a divided Ireland personified.
@john: For what???? So they can rent an airbnb and get p1ssed with their mates and spread covid. What a load of b0llix. Give it to front line health care workers.
@Ger Murphy: yes Ger I agree
@LangerDan: I know and there the people that the government should help
@Ger Murphy: cop on. Not every student is young and out to get pissed. Myself and the hundreds of other mature students who struggle throughout the year because we chose to go back and better ourselves are thrilled to be getting something to make things a little easier. Maybe I might actually be able to buy myself a few necessities that I havnt been able to over the last 2 years, seeing as there is little to no help for mature students
Your comment is ridiculously near-sighted and downright ignorant
@LangerDan: Most people kept their jobs and have never in their lives saved more money than this year because there’s nothing to do and nowhere to spend it. I feel sorry for students, what the hell are they supposed to do? They can’t socialise wuthout getting pilloried and there’s no holiday work for them. Those of us grown up with families and mortgages have no such excuses.
@john: honestly the dumbest hot take of any situation I’ve seen this week. How narcissistical do have to be to spit on students (paying full fees, 3 grand, for online college) for getting a once off €250?
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: Why are students being paid 250 euros each costing in total 50 million. The state has consistently failed to abide by the European Courts ruling in 2014 and compensate the victims of sexual abuse in national schools which would have cost 28 million.
Am I missing something here?
Nurses have to take to the streets for a fair and just pay increase (restoration) and they government handing out to people who never asked for it. What a complete waste of money
@Jurga Moylan: massive waste, this is a grab for younger voters most likely
@Jurga Moylan: you do realise that this payment will also include student nurses, don’t you! Unbelievable.
@Jurga Moylan: doesn’t have to be one or the other, pay restoration and 250 for the students should both happen. Don’t have to be bitter!
€250 for house parties, yipee!
@Peter O Donnell: clearly, I’m taking the mick. This is a disgrace.
@Peter O Donnell: If you read the article you will see the money will be going into the pocket of the universities, not the students pocket directly.
@Elle: I read students who don’t avail of susi grant can reduce their payments by €250 or give to the universities so it may well go to students or their parents pockets.
@Lydia McLoughlin: and those that do get a SUSI grant get an additional €250, so @Elle is wrong
@Peter O Donnell: Peter – you got far more thumbs-up for the house party idea :)
Anything for the tax payers?
@Brian Dunne: ya a huge bill.
Oh.ok.i work harder than my student child.guess her rent about to go up 250 quid for December.
@Lisa Quinn: I like your thinking. :-)
Sure most of them are getting the covid payment for their part-time jobs. Why is this necessary?
Whyyyyyy? For what? We always doling out money in this country.
@Optimus Prime: buying their vote
And what about people completely out of work or on short term work supports with mortgages and families to support?? Will they get a once off Christmas payment? A lot of those students are probably getting the PUP and then they get this?? Sorry but that’s a joke.
@Maureen Monaghan: some students have families too you know.
@Denise Kinsella: Some being the operative word here.
@Teresa Ryan: so? Some people (e.g. you) apparently just like to whinge, moan and begrudge others getting a measly amount back from the thousands that they pay in fees. You’re unbelievable
@Denise Kinsella: At a cost of 50 million euro to the taxpayer of which I am one. You are not a taxpayer. You have been a nett receiver of taxpayers money all your life. Yet your paw is out in pepertunity asking for more.
You’re unbelievable.
@Teresa Ryan: no – your asin1ne comments are nothing more than a display of your own lack of intelligence and misinformation. You have wrongly judged several people here (whom you dont even know) and it just shows you up for what you truly are. C you next tuesday.
@Denise Kinsella: Who are the several people I have wrongly judged. Now you are resorting to lying.
Now you are calling me a C you next Tuesday. I hit the nail on the head by stating that you are not a taxpayer, just another self entitled person with their grubby little paw out demanding more iof the hard pressed taxpayers money.
It’s insulting that I have to contribute to your education when you lack even the most basic of intelligence.
@Teresa Ryan: hhahahahahahahhahaa. You’re not even worthy of am intelligent reply you troll.
So go on then – seeing as you seem to know all about me, you can kindly tell everyone what age I am, how long I have been in education for, my work history, how many prsi contributions I have made seeing as you seem to know so much to make such an arrogant statement:-)
You absolute cockwomble
@Denise Kinsella: How long have you been in education? Given your posting history, I’d say your perpetually confined to junior infants.
I’ll let the rest of your gibberish go.
@Teresa Ryan: hahahaha. So there you have it. Everyone can see you’re nothing more than a jumped up judgemental old hag living in perpetual bitterness and misery. Have a good life with your cats.
Hiding behind a fake profile with no picture and more than likely a fake name. Speaks volumes about you really…..your response just illuminates nicely how much of your comment is based on your own internal misguided assumptions and all I have to do is sit back and laugh at how easy you make it for peoppe tense through you. Lol
@Denise Kinsella: hee, hee, hee, now you’re frothing at the mouth.
Wipe you gob and stop your dribbling.
@Teresa Ryan: tis the season to be jolly, TROLL-lol-lol-lol-lol, lol lol lol lol.
Path3tic and sad. Nice to see you stick to your usual low standard :-) I’m so glad you’ve made all these comments so please can see exactly what you’re like. The fact your such a self-serving bitter wagon is probably the main reason nobody else has bothered responding to any of your comments :-) lol hilarious.
Your inability to actually contribute anything of worth is just illuminated in your ridiculously judgrmental, ch1ldish and juvenile comments. What a failure
That overpriced printer is working overtime …
Take the 250 enjoy , please ignore the fact that registration fees are now what 3k a year when they were around 750 in 2008.
@Lorcan OReilly: For all the people complaining, why not me or others, why not let the disenfranchised receive something for once?
Harris’s generousity knows no bounds.
@Paul Mc: yes it does… The boundary is the tax payer
And the part-time students that work full time?
Ok well I’m a mature student final year undergraduate and single parent of 3 children. This 250 will make a huge difference to my family.
@Alison Maguire: same as me, I’m also a mature student (only I have one child) and this will make a huge difference to me. The judgemental, nasty, divisive comments here show exactly what is wrong with this country.
It’s a bribe for compliance, nothing else.
@Michael Mc Carthy: stop the claims if they fail, their course got compo in 2020 I’d say my Daughter will get it.
@Michael Mc Carthy: compliance? What do you think students are going to do with a windfall €250?
Oh this is a kick in the teeth. Essential worker from the start… got it end of March as an essential worker… still have symptoms fatigue and brain fog – didn’t get paid for time off between my ECG and test but college students getting a Christmas bonus ?!? What in the name of ****
@Jen Gordon:if you are off work due to illness to are entitled to sick payand protected under employment laws , students get nothing when they are sick except perhaps failing their and cant reapply for susi so have to give up on their career, whats your point.
3rd level students don’t have the most money at hand. I don’t begrudge them.
What a complete joke of a government.. Why exactly are they getting this?
@Vanessa: I do I’m working through the whole pandemic while you and your child enjoyed the nice weather, I got it in work,I paid for a Gap twice while on unpaid sick leave I had an ECG two ambulance visits and used my animal leave instead of sick leave because I don’t get paid. Enjoy your windfall
@Jen Gordon: I don’t know why you think that I don’t work. As a matter of fact I had also barely opportunity to take PTO. But yes, I have spent my freetime with my child.
The students paid far more than 250 quids fir a service which couldn’t properly provided. In fsirness I don’t even think that education should be linked to fees at all.
And that’s me… working and paying tax through the whole pandemic
I don’t begrudge them for getting something, I rather wished that you would have gotten more. That’s the difference.
@Jen Gordon: what makes you think Vanessa didn’t work during the whole pandemic? Lots of assumptions in your response there! There should be more supports for people on your situation of course but that should be in conjunction with this support for students, it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
This is ridiculous.
This govt and the opposition are pandering to the “yoof” future voters what with hate speech aka thought crimes, free council houses for D.P. after just 3 bloody months whilst Irish born and bred are homeless and Irish families been waiting years for a house and trying to over turn 79% of voters over the citizenship ref aka anchor baby scammers…..those in power NEED to stop listening to what is “trending” online and too the “woke” gen. and go back to yah know, normal middle centre ground legal voters, who get causes and elections won and lost!
The €250 is not being paid directly to the Students but as a credit off future fees. Poor journalism. I have two going to college, it’s an expensive process so this gesture is greatly appreciated.
They don’t need cash, they need interaction. Get them back on campus you joker!
What the fcuk is going on?
They announce taxing the PUP and then give it away to students the very next week.
They reject waiving nurses registration fees and then… (we’ll see next weeks folks). Isn’t this just sooooooo exciting!
Such a joke. Third level students do not need that – homeless people do FFS!
I too have been working through the pandemic and to be honest with you this doesn’t surprise me one bit. The amount of businesses that might go and will go out of business can the money be used to help them?
Really can’t understand this payment to a hugely subsidised cohort of young people ! No problem in giving this to the students from deprived areas or low income families but to think every student will get e250 is ridiculous! What about giving these monies to the voluntary charities for Xmas. It looks like a FG attempt to lure younger population…it won’t work!
This is a flipping farce. Why do I bother my bollox?
Off licenses getting another bonus
@Barry Larkin: that’s very cynical! As if students would waste €250 on drink….
Still nothing for the Self Employed over 65′s …. who were employed in the leisure business
Ah! the FFG magic money tree is working overtime.
Our government is just throwing money down the drain. My husband has a rich client, who had to close his business: he are not getting over 7,000 a WEEK for loss of earnings, to sit on their asses (and not even Irish) sorry but is this what I am paying my taxes for, for years. We will never recover from this. And no, students should not be getting this payment
@Carol Cunningham: Correction: ‘Now getting over 7,000 a week’
@Carol Cunningham: Why is he getting 7 ,000 per week.
Fantastic. And at the beginning of the Recession they *doubled* our college fees and reduced the student grant. Did the Irish Government suddenly start caring about young people? And what about those of us left behind when they didn’t care? What do we get? A slap in the face, evidently.
Priming them for the Universal Basic Income in a few years
@Kieran Hayes: hopefully. Tax the rich and the big corporations and there would be more than enough money to go around to make sure everyone has a roof over their heads and food on the table.
@Adam Sheridan: I’m guessing you’re not rich?
@John Lyons: Are you?
@Adam Sheridan: The thing about rich people is they can easily afford to move if you start slamming them with taxes. Same with large corporations, they will just relocate to more business friendly shores. Why do you think most of them are here to begin with ? Our witty banter and ceile music or our generous corporation tax rate ?
@Tommy Roche: they’re here for the craic
2020 just gets better and better
€250 for most students to go on the razz! What are the forgotten people of Ireland (pensioners) getting?
They have not been mentioned in any Covid subsidiary scheme what so ever.
It’s as if grandparents and people of a certain age no longer exist in Ireland 2020.
If your child is studying an undergraduate or postgraduate course in the UK, will they also get the €250 refund announced by Minister Harris. How will it be refunded to them. How does one go about proving your child is studying in the Uk. Patricia
@Barbara Foley: no
@John Lyons: Yes, apparently. “Funding worth €50 million, which was announced as part of Budget 2021, will give the financial assistance to all domestic and EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students”. The UK are still in the EU until Dec 31st.
It will be taxable at some stage
What bumper paycheck are frontline workers going to get from the government?
These young people will be contributing to the Irish economy very shortly making our country a better place to live in. By 2050 they’ll be paying towards the thousands and thousands of pensions that will need to be paid due to all of us living longer than ever before, give them a break, they’re amazing young people :) :)
@Karin Murphy: Ha, ha, ha, ho, ho ho and a couple of tra la las. The little runts won’t ever pay tax in Ireland as they will off to Australia when the immigration ban is lifted. Australia needs up to 200,000 thousands immigrants every year and the loss of immigrats this year has stagnated their economy. When things are back to normal and the immigration gates open again, the young Irish will once again flock to Australia.
What’s the Irish government going to do about that?
Will plan to use this to help pay next term’s fees for my daughter. Every little helps….
At this rate if the government were in charge santa would be delivering coc k punches for Christmas
250 euro that will be handy for the beer then.
The middle income tax payer, gets drained once again.
Crazy. Where’s all this money coming from? …. Sadly it will be the youth of this country who’ll be paying it back, forever.
Chitty chitty bang bang child catcher buying votes
A big slap in the face to family carers who get nothing and are meanstested.
This is a bloody disgrace! What about us paying tax? The €250 will be going on house parties with covid rates skyrocketing
Has anyone tried to buy a laptop for €250? Put us students on the PUP like everyone else, or put them on the €203 a week we have had to live off as mature students.
@Mikki James: they wouldn’t be long about shutting up with their whinging and moaning. Such a nation of begrudgers. I’d love to see half of them even trying to get by on what us mature students do.
have your say