DONOHOE'S ELECTION DRIFT: Fianna Fáil should practice what it preaches on ethics
The Chain Gang
On Monday, Fianna Fáil took issue with the Taoiseach using state engagements for electioneering, such as an IDA event with Apple CEO Tim Cook. Barry Cowan of Fianna 'holier than thou' Fáil said he was going to lodge a complaint with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO).
All we have to do is look back at last Thursday night, and the launch of the Meath West Fianna Fail TD Shane Cassells' campaign in the Darnley Lodge Hotel in Athboy.
The chairman of Meath County Council, Cllr Wayne Harding, was present; as was the chairman of Westmeath County Council, Paddy Hill, and the Mayor of Navan, Cllr Tommy Reilly. All three men were sporting their local authority chains. While there is a strict protocol around the council cathaoirleach, there is no such protocol around when and where the chain is and isn't to be worn. Parading around a party political function wearing the chains, in the middle of an election campaign, is surely a blatant disrespect to the office of cathaoirleach or mayor, but politicians have been getting away with it for years.
Interesting to note that Cllr Harding was not wearing his chain when cutting the ribbon on Deputy Thomas Byrne's office in Slane on Sunday - the Meath East TD knew better!
And you would wonder why there is even a need for cathaoirleachs to use these chains anywhere other than when chairing meetings in the council chamber – they are really an anachronism.
Boylan talks Brexit in Bruton heartland
Mairead McGuinness, Minister Helen McEntee and Sean Boylan.
Helen McEntee will be hoping her choice of venue for her campaign launch at the weekend will be a lucky one. Swan's of Skryne has been long associated with Fine Gael, and when John Bruton became taoiseach, it was the first place he was honoured, apart from his native Dunboyne.
The reason for such a love affair with Skryne is that it was the first party branch to nominate Bruton as a Dail candidate way back in 1969, and look at the political and international heights he rose to. Local party man, Joe Hanly, was the man to propose him back then.
Sean Boylan, whose own family routes are in Colvinstown, close to Skryne church, was chosen to do the honours, along with Mairead McGuinness, and there was an interesting smattering of well-known figures amongst the heaving crowd, including Devenish boss, Owen Brennan, former IFA president, Eddie Downey, horse trainer, Tucker Geraghty and wife, Bea, and of course, a successor of Boylan's, and the candidate's uncle, the current Meath team manager, Andy McEntee.