EVERY WEEK, TheJournal.ie casts its eye over events inside and outside Leinster House that have got people talking.
As the saying goes: ‘You win some, you lose some.’
Though TDs and Senators have largely vacated Kildare Street for the summer there’s still plenty happening politically.
So here are our political winners and losers from the past seven days and a bonus one that we can’t decide on…
1. Leo Varadkar
The new Health Minister has only been in the job a month but is already making his mark by setting expectations lower than his predecessor. Varadkar is acutely aware of the land mines that litter the department known as Angola and by opting to be realistic about what he can achieve he is ensuring that he will not suffer the same problems as James Reilly who talked a good game but struggled to deliver.
2. Alan Shatter
The former justice minister “cheated death” if the dramatic front page of The Irish Sun on Wednesday is to be believed. The reality of what happened at Dublin Airport on Tuesday morning is a little more sedate.
3. Sayeeda Warsi
The first Muslim to sit in the British cabinet resigned this week over David Cameron and his government’s policy on Gaza. It’s not often that politicians sacrifice their career for their principles and although some would argue that Warsi was seeking to a boost a flagging media profile she has taken an admirable stand whatever your views on the conflict.
4. Mary Mitchell O’Connor
August is the silly season where not much happens that is particularly newsworthy. That means it’s the perfect time for a backbench TD to drum up a bit of publicity for themselves. What better way to do that than engage in a rather odd Twitter conversation with an inanimate plinth…
1. John Bruton
The former taoiseach has not been afraid to air his views in recent years be it on the economy or the abortion issue but has he overstepped the mark with his declaration that the 1916 Rising “was a mistake”?
Bruton has argued this week that Ireland would have achieved better results had it followed up on the passing of the Home Rule Bill in 1914 instead of resorting to violence. Perhaps understandably, the reaction hasn’t been great:
2. Simon Harris
The new junior finance minister, who also has responsibility for the Office of Public Works, released a statement on Thursday saying that a total of €16.8 million had been allocated to repair storm damage in Clare. Only for the council to say it knew nothing about the statement and that it was waiting for a response from Harris’s department to its proposals. Not a great way to start your new brief.
3. Pat Rabbitte
The former communications minister appears determined not to go quietly to the backbenches. He gave a fiery interview to the Irish Independent this week in which he said he had “great difficulty” with people elected for the first time in 2011 going into Cabinet. Relations between Rabbitte and his new party leader Joan Burton have never been great and Rabbitte appears determined to undermine her in the months ahead.
4. SIPO
The political ethics watchdog continues to struggle to ensure that politicians and political parties are following the rules particularly in relation to accounting practices. It seems that parties aren’t afraid of SIPO and only respond when the gardaí or the DPP are called in. One source close to the matter said that the wrangling of accounts from branches is “worse than dealing with schoolchildren”. That says it all.
Marcia D’Alton
The independent Cork county councillor has told Irish Water that if it installs a water meter at her house it will be removed. Why? “We will not pay for water which has been fluoridated…We will not pay for a medicated product when we do not desire that medication,” she wrote to the new utility company.
We can’t decide on this one. So what do you think? Is Marcia D’Alton a winner or a loser?
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