MEP for Munster Seán Kelly, who is related by marriage to the Taoiseach (Fionnuala Kenny is his first cousin), addressed the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday night.
Seán is rarely stuck for a word and at the meeting he told everyone how wonderful they were and how well the Taoiseach and his Ministers were doing in Europe. He turned on the plámás, describing how Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan are held in high regard by their EU counterparts.
Enda seemed happy enough, smiling modestly. Seán went on: “And as for Lucinda . . .” What a job that woman is doing. “There is none her equal,” he burbled.
Some of his audience had difficulty suppressing their smirks. As for the Taoiseach, he bowed his head, shook it slightly and said nothing.