“Hopefully on St. Patrick’s Day in 2021 we can raise a glass and look back and banish the memories of this very difficult situation and be proud to say that we all played our part”

I am writing this on a St. Patrick’s Day the likes of which we have never seen before and hopefully will never see again. The many traits that have made us uniquely Irish over the generations will be severely tested in the coming weeks and months.

We are known as a very friendly people with a great sense of humour. We are warm, kind and generous and, for the most part, we are understanding and calm. But every single one of those characteristics have been shattered in the past two weeks as this deadly virus takes a hold of our country and the world. It will take some effort for our people to get used to the new ‘normal’.

No warm embraces, no shaking hands, no going to funerals or weddings, no going for a drink, no football or hurling matches to argue over, no Premier League soccer or rugby on TV. No club meetings or training, no music, no dancing and no fun. It’s as if the Almighty has asked us all to push the reset button because it seems that nothing will ever be the same again.

But while people are desperately worried and anxious at the moment, maybe something really positive will come out of all this mayhem. Maybe we will look after each other more and place much more value on our health and look after ourselves better. At the end of the day it is family and health that matters, everything else is irrelevant. Cars and holidays and nice clothes and money in the bank are of no significance as this disease sweeps through all communities, whether rich or poor.

Our generosity of spirit as a people is being severely tested, but I am confident that we will rise to the challenge. We must do what the health professionals are asking us to do. We must look after our families and the most vulnerable and follow the guidelines. We have got to do everything we can to support health workers as they battle with this deadly virus. Over recent days, as this crisis has deepened, there have been incredible stories of how generous people have been. I haven’t been surprised to hear them.

I know that people are scared and that some have resorted to panic buying in shops over the past week. But once more people realise that the shop shelves will be re-stocked almost immediately, that trend will hopefully settle down.

The people we need most in our thoughts at this time are the elderly and those people who are ill, those who are scared about the arrival of this disease. Who would ever have thought that churches in Ireland would be closed and that there would be no Masses? It’s even tougher for the families who lose loved ones as it’s a sad reality that funerals are currently family-only. It’s also a reality that people hospitalised by this virus won’t be allowed any visitors while they are being treated. Tough times surely.

It’s an unprecedented situation for our nation, but I am a big believer in the generosity of spirit that is within most Irish people. If we do what we are being told by the authorities we will come out of this at the other end. We might be a bit battered, but we will be much stronger and we can all face the future together when this virus is at bay.

I am glad that the Government is taking decisive steps to fight the spread of this disease. We must do what they say as they are been guided by the health experts. Hopefully if we all act responsibly we will come out of it. It may take a few months, but when we look back as a people we can be proud that we acted in the best interests of everyone. Hopefully on St. Patrick’s Day in 2021 we can raise a glass and look back and banish the memories of this very difficult situation and be proud to say that we all played our part.

Leadership from Leo

In these unprecedented times what people need is leadership and Leo Varadkar provided that when he addressed the nation on St. Patrick’s Night. The Taoiseach was honest, but he was also empathetic and understanding. I would have been a big critic of Leo and of Simon Harris in the past, but they, alongside Simon Coveney, have been very impressive over the past few weeks as they have put the people of the country first. It’s a pity that it took a crisis for them to show what is possible, but we can all be very thankful that they have come up trumps. Credit where it is due.

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I have huge sympathy with the Government. On the one hand they are hoping that life can continue with some semblance of normality, but they know that public health concerns are paramount

When I wrote my column last week I was unsure about the possible effect the coronavirus outbreak would have here, but now the situation is very serious indeed. I just hope the authorities have been painting a worst-case scenario for the public this week and that things might not be as bad as are feared.

The suggestion that as many as 1.9 million people could be infected in this country has spooked a lot of people. Even though it is a fact that the vast majority of people who get this virus will not die or even get very ill from it, that is scant consolation to vulnerable people in our community.

At the time of writing the number of cases here is very low, but the experience elsewhere tell us that the situation might get worse. However, I am not going to add to the obvious sense of panic that is out there already.

All we can do is to take individual responsibility for our own personal hygiene and wash our hands as often as possible. I have huge sympathy with the Government. On the one hand they are hoping that life can continue with some semblance of normality, but they know that public health concerns are paramount. A worst-case scenario would see everything close down/be halted – schools, universities, sports fixtures, restaurants, pubs, etc. Hopefully it will not come to that but a big increase in the number of cases here would change everything.

Any such increase would be the nightmare scenario as industry would grind to a halt and people would be isolated at home and that could lead to even more problems in the long-term.

The bottom line though is that no-one really knows what will happen into the next week, never mind into the next month. What I have detected since the weekend is that people are now genuinely worried and unsure of what to do.

There is no doubt that this is the biggest health emergency that we have ever seen, one that has the potential to change our world forever. But we have to just do the best we can and follow the advice in in terms of minding ourselves and our families.

Maybe the situation will not turn out to be as bad as was predicted by many at the weekend, but the truth is that we cannot take any chances. The Government must ensure that the public are kept abreast of whatever information they have. The only way this virus will be defeated is with the goodwill of the public.

Most Irish people realise that we are in a tight corner at the moment and that if we all work together and do what is necessary we can come out the other end of this crisis without too much damage being done. Hopefully in a few months’ time we can put it all behind us and move on.

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Hopefully the number of cases will be low, because if major sporting and cultural events are called off and tourism all but halted, then we are in for a rough ride economically

As I write these words on Tuesday, the situation with regard to the coronavirus (Covid-19) is ever-changing, but there is no doubt that it has the potential to be one of the most serious and damaging developments that we have seen in our lifetime. The effect that it could have on industry, sport, tourism and almost every aspect of modern life is frightening, but it is very important that people keep calm about it until we see how matters develop. It may well be that it will blow over in a couple of months.

Of course there are people getting carried away. I listened to travel expert Eoghan Corry on the radio at the weekend. He said he was in Colombia last week and on the plane journey he noted about 100 people were wearing protective masks. According to Corry, none of them had their mask on correctly! Not alone that, many people don’t realise that the masks are useless unless you have actually got the virus – their benefit then being that they might stop you giving it to someone else. (It will not actually prevent the wearer from getting the virus).

Thankfully up to now life can continue as normal, but a huge problem could arise if there happens to be a widespread outbreak. It would mean that people would have to stay out of work – and the big question then would be who would pay people in that scenario. It’s all right for Google and Twitter to tell their employees to stay at home, but the majority of small employers would not be able to afford to pay workers to sit at home for weeks on end. In that case there would be severe implications for the economy, but let’s not panic until we see what happens.

My main worry about the situation here in Ireland is that we have a health service that is bursting at the seams – and despite all the fine words that we have heard from the authorities in recent weeks, if there are a lot of cases we would find ourselves in big trouble. The hospital beds are simply not there to cope.

People who have breathing difficulties, e.g. asthma, COPD and other respiratory diseases, should certainly be very careful, but for the rest of the population there should be no panic.

There are some people who are going around buying up lots of hand sanitiser when it is proven that using old-fashioned soap and water is by far the best way to wash one’s hands.

Hopefully the number of cases will be low, because if major sporting and cultural events are called off and tourism all but halted, then we are in for a rough ride economically.

The coronavirus crisis has also brought into focus the need for strong leadership and how we need a Government to be formed without much further delay. Massaging egos and semantics should be set aside and the parties should form a Government to deal with not alone this crisis but also with the other problems that we have such as Brexit, housing, homelessness, the health service, etc.

The main thing is for people is not to panic about this coronavirus, which hopefully can be contained. Whatever happens, we will have to deal with it – but for the moment the best thing to do is get on with life and remain calm.

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  However, while it was really uplifting to see such a big crowd there on Saturday, and it was equally satisfying to hear the passion in the speeches of everyone who spoke, I am very pessimistic about the chances of this campaign being a success.

  We have had several major public protests in the past here in Roscommon and the powers that be have not passed the slightest bit of heed on them. As far as I can see, the only thing that will change the minds of the Irish Wheelchair Association on this issue is if Simon Harris or Leo Varadkar step in and tells them to stall or reverse their decision. Minister Finian McGrath seems to have no say at all and the board of the IWA are oblivious to the strength of public opinion here in Roscommon. In fact, they couldn’t care less about the views of people here.

  Minister McGrath has actually endorsed the decision taken by the IWA (to close Cuisle), so, given those circumstances, it will be very difficult to prevent this closure proceeding this Friday.

  It is desperately frustrating to hear stories like that of the printer in the Houses of the Oireachtas which will have cost over €1m by the time it is in operation. That is pretty close to the sum that is needed to carry out the necessary refurbishments at Cuisle.

  I am full of admiration for the people in the community in Donamon and surrounding areas for their passion and commitment to the ‘Save Cuisle’ cause, but it won’t be enough. At the end of the day, there’s a political dimension to all of this and unless a political decision is made to ensure the closure is averted, it’s curtains for Cuisle.

  What our politicians have to do now is to lobby the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach to get involved – or else this cause will be lost. The minimum requirement would be for the decision to be put on hold for at least 12 months to give breathing space for the refurbishment work to be carried out and/or for an alternative plan to be agreed for the full use of what is a magnificent facility.

  Cuisle is not only a respite and holiday centre for the service-users, it is also a huge asset to the local community. So many events have been held there over the years. The setting is fantastic and it would be a crying shame if the doors of this facility were to close this weekend.

  This decision was announced only three weeks ago and I know that it’s late in the day but the doors of Cuisle must not be allowed to close this Friday. If that happens, it will be impossible to open them again (in an IWA context). We cannot afford to lose another vital piece of community infrastructure from our county.

  Over to you Simon and Leo – tell the IWA that Cuisle must not close.

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A recent high profile trial in this State brought to the surface many talking points, not least the free availability of extreme violence and pornography which is a couple of clicks away on every smartphone in the country.

  I have a feeling that many parents are not aware of the stuff that is flying around on the Internet every day of the week. Some of the stuff that is appearing on Whatsapp and other facilities that are available on any smartphone is truly frightening and disturbing.

  For example, this week images of the injuries suffered by a 13-year-old girl who was attacked in Fermanagh were widely available and being passed on by hundreds of thousands of people. Last year a video of a person who was killed in an accident on the M50 was widely circulated. Every day, violent rows and every kind of extreme sexual and violent behaviour is shared – and it goes around like wildfire.

  It’s only the tip of the iceberg as hundreds of these messages and videos are shared every single day, without any censorship at all. That’s quite apart from all the porn and violent sites that are just a click away as well.

   Most mature adults would be able to deal with this carry-on without too much bother, but God only knows what effect it is having on young people. I hear politicians appealing for restrictions on these major companies – which is an honourable stance to take – but that ship has sailed a long time ago. Restricting them here would be impossible unless the same restrictions were to apply in every other country as well.

  The responsibility for this stuff being seen by young people has to be with parents. Buying a smartphone for a 10 to 12 year old is not a good idea if it is not monitored strictly. They are powerful mini-laptops in your pocket.

  That’s not even to mention the whole vexed question of bullying. A report this week reveals that most of the online bullying that goes on among school going kids happens at night. So when your little darlings go up the stairs at night with their smartphone in their hand, anything could be happening. I know that it’s scary, but it’s a reality.

  Social media has been a phenomenon of the modern age. Applications like Twitter, Whatsapp, Facebook and all the others have some great advantages and have been a very positive addition to many people’s lives in this era of instant news.

  There is a very dark side to it too – that’s the reality. Parents just have to take responsibility for what their kids are looking at. Expecting the politicians to do it isn’t the answer.

  In the next month there will be many requests from young people for their parents to buy them a smartphone for Christmas. It would be wise to stop and think about the responsibility having that phone brings. Most kids are okay and well adjusted and unlikely to do anything very serious, but there are those who would be adversely affected by looking at this material.

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  I have to say that I am dismayed with the amount of services that have been withdrawn from our county in the past couple of years alone. Hardly a month goes by that there is not some announcement that will have a major negative effect on our community.

  First there was the downgrading of Boyle Garda Station, then we had the disastrous closure (almost complete) of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea. Some weeks ago it was announced that the Garda Divisional Headquarters would be moving from Roscommon Town to Castlebar, and there is a now a long-term threat (albeit due to mooted refurbishment work) to continued sittings at Roscommon Courthouse.

  Earlier this month there was the devastating news that the Cuisle Centre in Donamon is to close with the loss of around 45 jobs, and this week we have confirmation from Bord na Mona that hundreds of jobs in the Midlands are to go as the ESB stops using peat altogether.

  With the exception of the Bord na Mona jobs, all the other situations receive little national media coverage. They are however huge blows within our county. It’s ‘death by a thousand cuts’ and now is the time for our public representatives to shout stop. It seems like the loss of services here is a relentless trend.

  Bit by bit, services are being taken away – and not being replaced – and it is happening under our noses. The fact is towns such as Roscommon, Boyle and Castlerea are commuter towns where the majority of people are getting into their cars and heading west or east to work every day.

  Local people, including Cuisle staff, were due in the Dáil on Wednesday to protest at the decision of the Irish Wheelchair Association to close Cuisle, but believe me folks, like everything else in this country, if the political will was there Cuisle would remain open. If Cuisle was located in Minister Finian McGrath’s constituency, do you think it would be closing? I think you know the answer to that one.

  The argument about the use of peat to generate electricity has been lost a long time ago but the fact remains that there are hundreds of people who have been in Bord na Mona for 30 and 40 years and who will never work again. The gaggle of ministers who visited the area on Monday say that the people in Bord na Mona can be re-trained so that they can retrofit houses. I will be amazed if that happens. They are also planning to ‘refurbish’ the bogs and turn them into tourist trails and parks. I’m not convinced by that either. A way of life for many people is coming to an end, it’s as simple as that.

  The bottom line is that as the months go by, many services are being cut and employment is being reduced in rural Ireland, especially in the midlands. How many cuts are we going to have to withstand in this county and this region before people start to get very angry? There is a general election coming up in the next five or six months. Readers should remember that.

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When the broadcasting revolution happened in Ireland in 1989 – when legal local radio began – those of us who were interested in current affairs had a template for our work – and that was Gay Byrne. If you wanted to know how to do it than you could look no further than ‘Uncle Gaybo’, because he was simply the best.

  His passing on Monday has led to an outpouring of sorrow and more importantly respect, the like of which is seldom seen in this country – and it is well merited too.

  I was not a massive fan of Gay Byrne as I felt that he was condescending and intolerant at times when people disagreed with him, but there is no doubt that he more than anyone else shaped a nation’s conversation for decades.

  Since his passing on Monday, I have heard some people say that he was in the right place at the right time as there was little opposition when he as at his peak. RTÉ had the radio and TV sectors to themselves and he had a captive audience, but I think that is unfair on Gay Byrne. He still needed to have the skill to engineer the debate that was so badly needed in this country and he was a master at that.

  He raised issues that were never discussed in public in this country before and the women of the country hung on every word that he uttered on his radio and TV programme. He raised and took on issues that at the time no one else would have dared to. What I admired about Gay Byrne most of all was his fearlessness. If he thought the issue was relevant he discussed it and he didn’t care who didn’t like it.

  In fact Gay Byrne took the pressure off governments and major organisations in this country because he was addressing issues, particularly social issues like homosexuality, birth control, divorce, sexual and physical abuse and rural isolation. They were issues that the powers that be in the ‘70s and ‘80s were shying away from. But not Gay. If it was relevant, he took it on. He shone a light into the many dark corners of Irish society and we are a better country for it.

  He was obviously a man who loved broadcasting. After he retired he went on to present programmes like ‘The Meaning of Life’ and a radio show on Lyric FM. He had a brilliant broadcasting voice and those who worked on his shows always said that he was a hard taskmaster and a perfectionist.

  I never met Gay Byrne but I grew up with him. Every Saturday night ‘The Late Late Show’ was essential viewing in our house, as it was all over the country. His radio show was listened to by the majority of the women in the country and he rarely disappointed. Someone said this week that when the husbands walked out the door to go to work, Gay Byrne walked in with his radio show.

   More than anyone else Gay Byrne has been instrumental in this country growing up and becoming more accountable in a number of very important areas. He was an incredibly skilful broadcaster who knew how to get the best out of ordinary people and believe me that is a very difficult thing to do.

  The word legend is bandied about far too often in the media when people pass away but I can think of no more appropriate term for Gay Byrne. He was a broadcasting legend.

May he rest in peace.

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The explosion in the use of cocaine as a drug of choice for so many people in this country is something that I wrote about in this column a number of months ago. This week the Health Research Board have confirmed that use of the drug is now widespread in every town and village in Ireland.

  In fact the Gardai and other authorities are now so worried about the extent of the use of cocaine, they say it is becoming a far bigger problem than alcohol abuse. This is a remarkable development.

  This week the Board have said that the average cocaine user is now far more likely to be a farmer, a nurse or a factory worker – and not the wealthy urban office workers who were often the stereotypical cocaine users in the past. People who work in the drug treatment sector around the country now say that while cocaine use was largely confined to cities and big towns up to five years ago, it is now present in every community in the country, urban and rural.

  In the local newspapers in recent months there have been many warning signs about the spiral in cocaine use. In Letterkenny, the Donegal Democrat recently reported that the problem in the town was ‘rampant’. A recent meeting of the Mayo Joint Policing committee was told that the problem in the county was ‘spiralling out of control’.

  Apparently if there is a big weekend of socialising coming up – such as a wedding or a stag or hen party – some people are using cocaine to ensure that they do not need to go to bed and can thus stay drinking for long periods without having to sleep.

  The report also states that by the time cocaine gets to the small dealers in rural Ireland, the drug has been mixed several times with other substances such as rat poison, meaning people do not have a clue what they are taking.

  Furthermore, it has to follow that if so many people, both young and not so young, are taking cocaine, the number of people driving on our roads with this drug in their system is rising with every passing week. That, needless to say, is a major concern.

  The amount of violent attacks on our streets is increasing all the time and I would maintain that much of that is down to the erratic behaviour brought on by excessive cocaine use.

  There has to be a price to be paid for this latest development in Irish society. I am convinced that many parents and those who are responsible for the education of young people are not aware in the slightest of just how big this problem is at the moment.

  If there are people out there today who think that cocaine use is not a problem in their community, then they are deluded and need to wake up. It’s only when they are a number of tragedies that people will sit up and take notice. Then it’s too late.

  There are so many ways for people to get a hold of this drug now. I am told that to successfully get your hands on cocaine requires little more than a couple of phone calls, regardless of where you live in this country right now. It’s frightening.

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Junior and Intermediate finals a highlight!

When I look back at 2019 last Sunday’s junior and intermediate football finals in Dr. Hyde Park will be among the highlights. The weather was fine, which is always a plus, but there were two great games and four outstanding teams on view.

  In the first game, Ballinameen came with a plan to play all-action football. There was a man in red and white always available to take possession and they carried it out to perfection. St. Brigid’s’ young team played their part but they had no answer to Charlie Ward’s team, superbly led by Dessie Carlos.

  It was also fantastic to see the people of Ballinameen out on the field after the game celebrating with their heroes. That’s the beauty of the GAA and the club game in particular. There is a chance for everyone to have their day in the sun.

  Ballinameen’s captain Peter Keane was seriously ill just two months ago. Little did he know he would be lifting the cup alongside his teammates, neighbours and friends last Sunday. St. Brigid’s made a big contribution too and they have many talented young players who will surely feature at senior level in the future.

  In the intermediate final, Oran played some brilliant football for 40 minutes but just couldn’t sustain it and Tulsk eventually found a way to reel them in. It was another mighty game.

  There is probably more room for improvement in Tulsk ahead of the replay and they have to be the favourites to win at the second attempt. It would be so cruel if Oran were to lose another replay, but it promises to be another great match.

  It’s no coincidence that the games we have seen over the past number of weeks in Dr. Hyde park have been very entertaining. The pitch is in fantastic condition and players love those conditions. It’s been a great couple of weeks for club football in the county.

Irish hype train derailed in Japan!

It was no real surprise that Ireland lost to the All Blacks last Saturday at the Rugby World Cup but the manner of defeat was a shock. Ireland were hammered, and they had no answer to the power and skill of New Zealand.

  It was a very sad way for Joe Schmidt to end what was a very successful tenure for him as the Ireland head coach. But the facts of the matter are that Ireland regressed in the twelve months leading up to the World Cup. The signs were there and were largely ignored by many of the pundits and the Irish rugby media.

  There is more hype surrounding the Irish rugby team than any other international team that we have. Even the likes of Newstalk who have very extensive sports coverage every day of the week was well populated by cheerleaders over the past few months who ignored the train that was coming down the tracks in terms of Ireland’s form going into the tournament.

  Excuses were made for the terrible Six Nations performances against England and Wales and more excuses were trotted out when England humiliated Ireland in that World Cup warm-up at Twickenham. Even the loss to Japan was put down as a blip.

  The facts are that we were not good enough and got what we deserved. There will be a month or two with not much comment and the hype will start again in time for the Six Nations.

  However, seven losing quarter-finals and counting is a terrible record for a team that is built up so much every time we go to a World Cup.

  In the semi-finals I am expecting New Zealand and South Africa to emerge. England will try to bully the All Blacks but they have too much variety in their game to get caught but I am expecting a very good match between the two. Wales are the constant over-achievers and they will give it everything against South Africa but the Springboks look a very strong side with a very impressive bench and that could decide it in the end.

Norwich away is the real test for United!

In fairness, Manchester United put in a reasonable display against Liverpool at the weekend and I would have taken a draw before the game started. But I will withhold any great praise for United until I see how they get on against Norwich this weekend. United were always going to raise their game for Liverpool but it’s games like Norwich away that are the real test of character!

  Meanwhile, Roy Keane was at it again on Sunday on Sky Sports and there is no doubt about it he is box office – whether you agree with him or not!

  While the Manchester United and Liverpool players were waiting in the tunnel to go out on the field a number of players on each side embraced and others shook hands. Keane was apoplectic as he said: “What’s that all about? Players hugging and shaking hands, they are going out to war, into battle, it’s a load of crap if you ask me!”. He’s right you know!

Mixed response to two-tier football

The GAA will be bringing in a ‘tier two’ football championship in 2020 and there are many conflicting views about it. Most Roscommon people would of the view that it will not affect us here in this county but they are mistaken.

  The bottom two teams in Division Two of the league will not get into the qualifiers for the main championship if they don’t reach their provincial final. I know that it’s probably highly unlikely, but if Roscommon were to be dragged into a relegation battle it would be worrying as we have the prospect of playing Mayo in the Connacht semi-final next May. That would be a 50/50 match. The new situation will make Division Two a real dog fight now, as if it wasn’t going to be one already! 

  The idea of a two-tier championship is a good one in my view but the GAA must take it seriously and market it properly. Players in the lower ranked counties must have something tangible to aim for. If the GAA get it right at the start it will be a success.

  Meanwhile, the new playing rules will be interesting when they are introduced on January 1st. The kickouts from the 20-metre line will cause no controversy. However, the advanced mark will be tough for referees to police. Was the player outside or on the 45 metre line? Did the ball travel 20 metres? How long does the player who makes the catch have to decide whether to play on or take his free?

  With regard to the 10-minute sin-bin, it will certainly work in big games when there are plenty of officials to rule on the time-keeping but I am not so sure it will work in club league games where there are very few neutral officials. But there is no point in shooting down the new rules before we get a chance to see them in action.

An honour to introduce 1979 heroes

It was a great honour to be asked to introduce the National Football League winning team of 1979 at Dr. Hyde Park at half-time in the recent senior county final.

  That sunny day in May 1979 was one of the greatest days in Roscommon football history. Not only did Roscommon win the league title for the first time but they played some unbelievable football that day. They won the game by 0-15 to 1-3 and it was a display full of marvellous attacking and flowing football. Having beaten Kerry in the quarter-final and Offaly in the semi-final, it was a success on the national stage that I will never forget.

Note: I am running a video disco as a fundraiser for Roscommon Palliative Care this Friday night at Nancy’s Nightclub in Castle Street. Please support this worthy cause if you can. It’s €10 to get in and it should be a bit of craic!

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I realise that Brexit, the housing crisis and homelessness are far more pressing issues for people, but the disdain that many of our politicians show for the electorate is clear for all to see in the current controversy over TDs casting votes on behalf of fellow TDs in the Dáil chamber.

  If I turned up at a voting booth with two polling cards I would be in big trouble, and rightly so. I don’t think it’s too much to ask TDs who are earning almost €100,000 a year to attend in the chamber when they are supposed to vote. It only takes a few seconds to cast a vote.

  What really annoys people is when politicians try to cover up their mistakes when they are found to have acted wrongly…rather than owning up. I happened to hear Lisa Chambers on radio on Sunday when she denied point-blank that she had ever voted on behalf of anyone else. Then, when she was exposed on Sunday evening, she produced the greatest load of codswallop I have heard for some time.

  Deputy Chambers indicated that she had misunderstood the question. She thought she was being asked did she “intentionally, knowingly, purposefully” vote for somebody else. “It was a long week and I was tired” came the next excuse. Who do these people think that they are codding?  She was badly caught out and should have apologised. It’s as simple as that.

  This controversy puts Micheál Martin in a bind because he accepted the explanation given by Chambers, while turfing Timmy Dooley and Niall Collins off the front bench. He obviously didn’t believe their explanations as to why they were voting for someone else. Double standards?

  I have no doubt that as this controversy rumbles on, TDs of all parties and none will be accused of this carry-on. But what implications could it have for the legality of bills which it could now possibly be argued were passed by votes which were illegal? That’s the big question.

   It would appear at the time of writing that Fianna Fáil have far more questions to answer than their rivals…which is another boost to Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael. Yet the Taoiseach must be very frustrated that the Brexit puzzle is still as complicated as it has ever been, as right now would be a very opportune time to go to the country for a General Election.

  However, back to the issue at hand, and while Votegate may not seem that important to the majority of people, the fact is that the Constitution states that TDs must be present to cast their vote. It’s the law of the land.

  There is a view held by many analysts that this Dáil has been the least productive in the history of the State and that it is paralysed by Brexit. We now have a situation where there are certain TDs who treat the electorate with such apathy that they do not even show up to press a button to vote on the issues that are discussed in a given week.

  The Ceann Comhairle is conducting an investigation into this matter. I hope that his report is revealing and transparent and that the practice of people voting for colleagues is stopped.

  What implications this controversy will have on politics in general is another matter. At the moment, three Fianna Fáil front bench TDs are either suspended or (in the case of Deputy Chambers) in the full glare of controversy. However, I have a feeling that Fine Gael might be dragged into this before the week is out. It’s another fine mess!

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