Miriam Lord's Week

Higgins hobbles on; Cameron tries to woo media; Jerry’s bald ambition; sheepish protesters; FG cancel Christmas and FF no longer just the ticket

Michael D gets on the good foot after accident

Higgins hobbles on; Cameron tries to woo media; Jerry’s bald ambition; sheepish protesters; FG cancel Christmas and FF no longer just the ticket

IT’S STILL full steam ahead towards the presidency for Michael D Higgins, who is recovering in hospital in Galway after he slipped and fractured his knee while on a fact-finding mission to Colombia.

The unsinkable Michael D was taking part in a programme organised by aid agency Trócaire and had been visiting a remote an impoverished area of the South American country when he had his accident.

“I was staying in a very simple BB in a place called Buena Ventura, having had a lot of meetings with community and religious representatives the day before. It was early in the morning and I was getting ready for the day when I heard my phone ring. I rushed to answer it, but the bathroom tiles were wet and I slipped, falling heavily on my knee.

“The nearest city was Cali, four hours away. There, they put my leg in a splint and strapped it up. We went back to Bogota and continued our meetings on the Thursday and Friday.” The veteran Labour TD for Galway West says he would have been unable to complete the programme had it not been for the assistance of his parliamentary colleagues on the trip – TDs Tom Kitt and Pat Breen and Senator Mark Daly.

“They pushed my wheelchair around and looked after me. I couldn’t even tie my shoelaces, but thanks to their help, I managed.” He limped in on crutches to meet the vice-president of Colombia, among others, and says he has “60 pages of notes filled” since he got home last weekend. Michael D went into hospital on Monday and had an operation on his kneecap the following day. He hopes to be released in a day or two.

“The good news is it was a clean break. My leg is in a cast, but I would hope to be back in the Dáil next week” he tells us.

As for the presidential election, Higgins says: “I’ll be well able to get on and off the battle bus when the time comes.”

Cameron’s diplomatic mission with the media

David Cameron became the first serving British prime minister to visit the Irish Embassy in London on Wednesday night, but he came with the memory of the Bishop of Southwark uppermost in his mind.

Right Rev Tom Butler, who retired this year, attended an Embassy Christmas reception in 2006, but over-generously partook of the Ambassador’s hospitality, leaving for his home in Tooting shortly before 9pm. A little while thereafter, the Church of England prelate was found, appropriately, on Crucifix Lane near his cathedral, where he had clambered into a stranger’s Mercedes and started throwing toys onto the road.

The disgruntled owner came out of a pub where he had been playing pool to find the bishop in his robes. “What are you doing in my car?” demanded the car owner.

The bishop replied, with a quote that will stay with him to the grave: “I’m the Bishop of Southwark, it’s what I do.”

Greeted by Ambassador Bobby McDonagh and his wife, Mary, Mr Cameron was the guest of honour at a reception for the Journalists’ Charity. The PM joked: “I am enjoying a small drink of Guinness, but I am determined not to go the way of the Bishop of Southwark, so there is a reason why I will be leaving early tonight.” With perfect comedic timing, he went on: “I have had one of those interesting days today: I had questions in the House of Commons, I had a meeting with Her Majesty, the Queen, I had a meeting with the archbishop of Canterbury, so I am genuinely on to the fourth estate.”

The ambassador, a Tottenham Hotspur fan, joked that he feared Mr Cameron might have been invited to the reception under false pretences. The aim of the event was to raise awareness for an organisation which showed charity towards journalists, rather than journalists showing charity to politicians.

However, Cameron was determined to look on the bright side, saying the charity was a perfect example of his dream of the big society: “What I love about your charity is that it started with a few hacks in a pub because you wanted to provide for journalists who fell on hard times, you wanted to do a good and noble and right thing and you didn’t wait for the government. You just got on and did it. That is the Big Society in action.” And he hoped, perhaps forlornly, for a new relationship between the press and politics: “I am obviously at that early stage in a prime ministership where you can just about open a British newspaper without foaming at the mouth or falling over backwards. It probably won’t last long, but I am determined to enjoy it while I can.

“We are at a time of great national stringency when whomever was prime minister would be having to make cuts. I hope that we can have a rational debate about what those cuts are and what effect they will have. Sometimes in the morning listening to Radio 4 I walk out of the house thinking that there won’t be a school or house left standing,” he said.

Urging both sides to avoid “a tango of mutual destruction”, he said the press should be respected for “its vigour, its brilliance in chasing stories and unlocking scandals”, but, equally, he hoped it would recognise “that most people who go into politics are not crooks or criminals or sleazebags; that they are good people who want to do a good job for their constituents. I don’t ask for a soft or easy ride. I don’t expect for a moment that I would ever get it.All I hope is that you will look at parliament and do recognise that there are people trying to do some good things in the interests of the country and, yes, criticise; yes, have a go; but let’s not drag each other down by thinking that it is all about spin and soundbites and cynicism.”

Buttimer in hair-raising event for charity

Senator Jerry “Butsy” Buttimer was scalped recently, but it was all for a good cause.

The Cork-based Senator had his head shaved as part of a successful world record-breaking attempt at the Evergreen Pub in Turner’s Cross, and a goodly sum was raised for cystic fibrosis in the process.

Senator Dan Boyle was timekeeper for the evening, while a number of local TDs turned up for the photo opportunity when the electric razors had been decommissioned.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle completed the Dublin city marathon. Andrew, who walked the course under doctor’s orders, made it across the finishing line in just over seven hours.

Deputy Jimmy Deenihan’s cross-party group of marathon running politicians met last week for a celebratory dinner in Roly’s Bistro in Ballsbridge.

“It was a great night, and we all agreed on one thing – never again!” said Senator Cecilia Keaveney, who came home in just over four hours. That should stand to her in the Donegal byelections.

Smith is the big cheese at journalism awards

Minister for Agriculture Brendan “Cheesy” Smith was guest of honour at a big bash in AIB headquarters last night.

The occasion was the Guild of Agriculture Journalists awards, a glitzy affair held every two years. The Minister enjoyed a seafood starter, followed by a choice of sole or ribeye steak and rounded off with apple crumble.

No cheese. He’s saving it for Christmas, to have with his iodine tablets.

Missile shows student fees a livestock issue

Much has been made of the missiles lobbed over the gates of Leinster House by protesters during last Wednesday’s student demo.

Beer cans, cider cans and at least one vodka bottle made it over – all empty, of course. That’s students for you, tut-tutted the authorities. Only interested in drink. But there was one projectile that baffled the security people – a leg of lamb.

Must have been the catering students.

Retirement ushers in new life for quiet Jim

There was a big turnout in the Dáil bar on Thursday night for the retirement party of usher Jim Boyne, one of the most popular members of staff in Leinster House.

Gentleman Jim is hanging up his uniform after many years of distinguished service. Superintendent of the House, Paul Conway, made a special presentation to Jim while his colleagues Shay Byrne (head usher) and Denis McQuaid led the speeches.

A quiet man, Jim Boyne surprised many staff members when he sang a fantastic medley of Frank Sinatra numbers. “He is a brilliant singer and his rendition of My Way brought the house down,” said Shay.

Jim and his wife Joan are heading to New Zealand in January, when they will be reunited with their three children and grandchildren, who emigrated there.

Silent night in store for FG as party cancelled

Michael Noonan, Fine Gael’s finance spokesman, refused to give any detail of his party’s economic plan to colleagues at last Wednesday parliamentary party meeting.

He said he couldn’t tell them anything because the “reporters” present would have it in the newspapers in the morning. Noonan knows there is no such thing as confidentiality at a parliamentary party meeting.

One crucial decision was taken at the meeting. It was agreed, for the first time ever, there would be no Fine Gael Christmas party. Instead, the money will go to St Vincent de Paul. At least there’s no chance one of them might be found drunk in charge of a sleigh in the Dáil car park.

Greeks warn of EU officials bearing gifts

The Greek contingent in Brussels is watching Olli Rehn’s visit to Dublin on Monday with particular interest.

The EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner was in Athens before the rescue package was put together for the country. He was very upbeat, commenting that everything was going well and he had confidence in the Government, and so on . . .

“Watch out for Olli Rehn,” said a Greek colleague during the week. “If he finishes his press conference by saying ‘bon courage!’ you’re in big trouble.”

Party faithful not giving dig-out for FF events

Are the rats leaving the sinking ship? Last month at the annual Fianna Fáil Wolfe Tone commemoration in Bodenstown, chief steward Seán Sherwin, expressed disappointment at the low turnout of party members. Attendance was considerably down on previous years.

This week’s Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting, in the middle of a very turbulent few days, was also very poorly attended and ended in under 15 minutes.

But not before Monaghan TD Margaret Conlon, put out a plea for more TDs and Senators to buy tickets for the annual Cairde Fáil dinner, which is coming up in a matter of weeks, just after the Donegal byelection.

This is supposed to be the social highlight of the year, a glittering event in the FF calendar. In the halcyon days, there used to be a waiting list for cancellations. So far, a disappointed Deputy Conlon told the meeting, a paltry 14 tickets have been bought by members of the parliamentary party.

SF gets cosy with legal eagles after court victory

Sinn Féin is very palsy-walsy with the judiciary these days. Defenders of the Constitution, they were the winners of the week in Leinster House following Senator Pearse Doherty’s successful court challenge on the Donegal South West byelection.

In the wake of the ruling by Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, Senator Doherty embarked on a round of media interviews. It was “Nicky” Kearns this and “Nicky” Kearns that from the Sinn Féin Senator, who hopes to take the Dáil seat vacated by Pat “The Cope” Gallagher when he went to the European Parliament.

Seanad watchers also noticed that Senator Doherty looked very smart during his visit to the Four Courts – he rarely wears a tie when in the Upper House, but had one on for his trip to the Four Courts.

Back in Kildare Street, some Government TDs were feeling a little sour about the Shinner’s courtroom success. “Nice to see Sinn Féin supporting the Constitution for a change,” smirked Dick Roche.

Meanwhile, it was pointed out that while Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore condemned the actions of the woman who threw paint over Mary Harney, SF TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, who spoke first for his party during Tuesday’s Order of Business, didn’t refer to the matter.

It was probably an oversight.