One small step for Dublin transport, one giant Leap off the Park bus

ALAN KELLY is a man in a hurry. This may be one of the reasons why Eamon Gilmore made him junior minister for buses – a role filled by Fianna Fáil’s Seán Haughey in the last government.

The Labour TD for Tipperary North was in the news during the week when, as Minister of State with Responsibility for Public Transport and Commuter Affairs, he launched a new integrated travel ticketing system for Dublin.

For some reason, some of his party colleagues found this hilarious. He showed off the “Leap card” commuters will be able to use on various forms of public transport. They will be able to hop on and off between bus, Luas, Dart and local rail services in the greater Dublin area.

The card wouldn’t have helped Alan on the day of the presidential inauguration, when President Michael D hosted a private luncheon for about 90 guests. What with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, the judges, senior ministers and former Áras incumbents, not to mention Michael D’s family and special guests, spaces were tight on the list.

After the inauguration ceremony, a bus was sent to Dublin Castle to transport the favoured ones to the Phoenix Park. A buffet lunch was laid on for the many who remained behind.

The passengers included some Labour junior ministers, but not all. There were mere deputies too – old friends of the new President. Kildare’s Jack Wall was among them.

The guests were given a special lapel pin to wear so the military police who were running the operation could recognise them. They also had a printed list of names.

Labour junior ministers Jan O’Sullivan and Róisín Shortall weren’t on the list. “They took their beating and said nothing,” remarked one observer. But Alan Kelly, public transport supremo, attempted to board the bus.

He hopped on . . . and hopped off, encouraged in no uncertain terms by a military policeman who told him he was not entitled to travel. This may have been why he occasioned such mirth when he produced his new Leap smart card at the parliamentary party meeting. The moral for Mr Kelly seems to be: Look before you Leap.

That’s not to say he won’t get the nod from Gilmore for Willie Penrose’s recently vacated high-chair at the Cabinet table. The Tánaiste now has to choose a new junior minister and then appoint one from among their ranks to super-junior status.

In classic Bertie Ahern fashion, Gilmore has announced to his simmering wanabes that he won’t make any decision until after the budget. This should cut down on any pre-budget tantrums from his unsettled troops, some of whom are very jittery.