The Front Pages
After the week that was in it, it’s little surprise that the Sunday papers are a political animal once again, with each of the main Irish broadsheets giving their own angle on Fine Gael.
“Revealed: How Kenny beat revolt†– Sunday Times
“Kenny to axe seven†– Sunday Tribune
“FF and FG dissidents planning new party†– Sunday Independent
As its headline promises, the Sunday Times’ front page story reveals the details behind the leadership heave, which was first mooted back in February after two poor media performances by Kenny on RTE’s Late Late Show and on Newstalk radio and the resignation of George Lee.
It claims that several back-benchers, led by Meath TD Damien English, initiated discussions about a challenge to Kenny but the move was foiled when Richard Bruton refused to come on board. With knowledge of the growing unrest, Kenny had been putting plans in place to fight off a heave during the intervening four months – including, the report states, socialising in the Dail bar on Wednesday evenings in order to foster relationships with party members.
The Sunday Tribune looks at the ins and outs of Kenny’s new opposition cabinet, claiming that he will axe seven front-benchers, including Olivia Mitchell, Brian Hayes and Simon Coveney.
Among those to oppose Kenny who are likely to be offered front-bench roles are former deputy leader Richard Bruton and Leo Varadkar, although neither are certain to accept the positions.
In an interestingly tangential angle, the Sunday Independent suggest that Fine Gael’s problems, combined with the ongoing plummet in the popularity of governing party Fianna Fail, could prompt the establishment of “a new political party within monthsâ€.
A nationwide survey conducted by the newspaper in conjunction with Quantum Research on Friday found that a narrow majority (51 per cent) of people felt that a new political party is necessary. An unnamed Fianna Fail TD is quoted as saying, “There is no doubt there is an appetite for it, and a market for it too.â€
If the main stories are centred on Fine Gael, the rest are designed to have people choking on their Sunday roast in indignation.
The Sunday Independent stirs the pot once more with the news that “dozens of wealthy AIB bankers enjoyed a lavish jaunt to the Ascot races – as millions of Irish taxpayers continue to struggle in the grip of the credit crunch.â€
The report claims that the bank splashed out €20,000-per-day on a private box at Royal Ascot this week, with “champagne and fine food†on the menu and the needs of those present tended to by a team of waiting staff and hostesses.
Across in the Tribune, there’s the news that Willie O’Dea has been claiming thousands of euro in travel expenses “even though he has been hitching a lift with a Fianna Fail colleague.â€
Apparently, the presence of a ministerial driver meant that O’Dea had not required to drive himself for years, and discovered in the wake of his resignation earlier this year that his driving licence had lapsed. Since then he’s been blagging a lift of Niall Collins – but “continued to claim the full amount in his travel and accommodation allowanceâ€.
Shameless.
