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.’
So here are our winners and losers from the past seven days:
1. James Reilly
Credit to the embattled Health Minister for holding his hands up on the medical cards debacle and the public relations campaign is a positive step. But will it solve the problems being experienced by many people trying to renew or hold on to their cards? That’s the big, uncertain question that won’t be solved by public relations alone.
2. Government backbenchers
Labour and Fine Gael TDs got some time with the Troika on their final visit to Ireland this week which was a coup of sorts even if these meetings tend to be fairly perfunctory affairs. Here’s what happened:
3. Eamon Gilmore
While some may criticise the extent to which this government and Enda Kenny plays bessie mates with the US and Barack Obama it was good to see the Tánaiste give a robust response to the issue of NSA spying, even if the US won’t tell them whether or not it is spying on Ireland.
4. Catherine Murphy
We like independent TDs who have some interesting, independent ideas and the Kildare North TD’s proposal to make more out of Halloween for the economic benefit of the nation is a smart idea that’s worth considering.
5. Enda Kenny
The Taoiseach got to ring the Nasdaq bell and hang out with hip young people at the Dublin Web Summit this week. He even got a cool headset:
We doubt if he’ll be allowed bring that into the Dáil unfortunately.
1. The Labour Party
Three resignations in three days from Labour councillors who no longer want to be associated with the party. That’s now 26 who have quit the party as a result of its role in government. Eamon Gilmore may be proud of those who have stayed the course but that’s a decreasing number.
2. Phil Hogan
The Environment Minister faces an uphill task in selling the idea that people should pay for water when the supply of it has been restricted in the Greater Dublin area this week. He admitted communications could have been better but this isn’t the first time Phil Hogan and communications have been a problem.
3. Gordon Brown
The former British Prime Minister forgot that the fact that he represents the good people of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath means he’s very much still a politician:
4. Ben Gilroy
Getting in trouble with the courts is not something you want to do if you have intentions of running for the Dáil as Gilroy and his Direct Democracy (DDI) movement have. Friday’s court appearance, added to recent reports of a split in DDI, do not bode well for Gilroy.
5. The Obama administration
The more spying revelations that come out the more damaging it is to Barack Obama and his government. US Secretary of State John Kerry has perhaps gone some of the way to repairing the damage by admitting spying “has reached too far” at times but it will take a lot more than that.
Pics: Photocall Ireland and Dublin Web Summit
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