An election miscellany.
Handbags at dawn
Dick Roche and Martin Cullen made surprise appearances at Fine Gael's press conference yesterday - but only in the form of cardboard cut-outs.
The Opposition parties have been remarking on what it says are the two Ministers' "disappearance" during this campaign. Labour's environment spokesman Éamon Gilmore released a statement yesterday expressing his "serious concern" for their welfare. Sure enough, the two have been less visible than usual in recent weeks, although only conspiracy theorists would suggest that there's any strategic motive at the highest Fianna Fáil level.
Anyway, Fianna Fáil has hit back, quipping that the entire Fine Gael front bench has been missing from its own press conferences - a reference to how few candidates faced the press in the early days of campaigning. Expect this catfight to rumble on.
The enemy within
As long ago as Saturday, journalist and blogger Damien Mulley spotted that Noel Dempsey's blog contained links to YouTube videos of Vincent Browne taking on Bertie Ahern and a satire placing the Taoiseach on Dragon's Den. Perhaps Dempsey doesn't read other blogs because by yesterday, the offending videos were still ready to pop on to Dempsey's site at the click of a link. Maybe Dempsey's site is the first sign of the Taoiseach's waning powers over his party, the subtle sign of a growing rebellion - or maybe it's just a really bad advert for our Minister for Communications.
World Wildlife (Investment) Fund
The PDs aren't afraid to take on the big issues and to use snappy slogans while they're at it. The party is pledging to save a severely endangered species - investment bankers. During yesterday's walk around Dublin's financial district, PD canvassers sported "Save the IFSC" T-shirts. They looked ready, if it came to it, to chain themselves to a skyscraper rather than see it torn down.
Roving posters
There have been some sightings of posters where they shouldn't be. Independent TD Finian McGrath is staring down from pylons along Dublin's south quays and on College Green - neither of which is in his constituency of Dublin North Central. Meanwhile, Jackie Healy-Rae posters have ended up in Broadford, Co Clare - very far away from his south Kerry home. Finally, in Cork a large poster at the junction of Dean Rock Cottages and the Togher Road has been urging people to give their vote to Fine Gael's Brian Bermingham - the only problem being that the councillor isn't actually running.