Eyebrows raised as TD tackles burning question of the day

WE RESURRECT our quote of the week from last Friday’s Dáil debate on the second stage of the Burial and Cremation Regulation Bill.

Labour TD Tommy Broughan is seeking to address the lack of planning and supervision in what one speaker described as “the funeral industry” by establishing an independent regulatory authority.

During a thoughtful contribution, Tommy’s Carlow- Kilkenny colleague Ann Phelan came out with this nugget: “I am from a rural constituency, where anyone who wants to be cremated has to drive to Dublin.”

You can see how that might pose a difficulty right enough.

Deputy Phelan just pips Minister Brendan Howlin for the prize. The Minister for Public Expenditure was at his pompous best on Tuesday during questions on the awarding of a licence for the national lottery.

He told Fianna Fáil’s Seán Fleming he wanted to ensure that any process involving his department or the Government was transparent and has no external pressures or influences placed on it. To this end, he solemnly declared: “I have issued a protocol to myself as well as to every senior official . . .”