Everyone seems to be talking about the Dáil and a dress code, so what exactly is going on?
Is it true that the Dáil and the Seanad are getting dress codes? Do they not already have them?
No, neither the Dáil or Seanad currently have dress codes so politicians can pretty much wear what they like into their place of work – once it’s not something stupid like a bumblebee costume.
Well when are they getting one?
A dress code hasn’t actually been implemented yet. One Fine Gael TD has called for a dress code saying that some TDs show a ‘lack of maturity’ by wearing t-shirts, jeans and runners into the Dáil and Seanad. So that’s why everyone is talking about it.
So who is calling for the dress code? Some sort of fashion prude no doubt?
You’d think so, but it was actually the Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin and she’s far from a fashion prude – as you’ll see here.
It’s not the first time that Michelle has been in the news either. Last month, she hit the headlines after saying that fornication – or consensual sex between unmarried couples – was the biggest cause of unwanted pregnancy. It upset quite a few people, but now she has certain poorly dressed politicians in her sights.
Why does she care so much?
Well, at this week’s Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting she said that some TDs seemed bent on giving “two fingers” to the system by dressing inappropriately and refusing to pay taxes like the household charge, according to the Irish Independent.
“Ultimately, if we followed their way, there would be anarchy in the country,” she said.
Apparently, it also sets a bad example to school children who go to the Dáil for school trips – somebody has to think of the children at the end of the day.
Is she pointing her well-dressed finger at anyone in particular?
Well, she says it’s directed at no-one in particular, but it looks as though she’s having a stab at Mick Wallace – the pink t-shirt wearing, tax dodging Independent TD.
The issue of a Dáil dress code was originally brought up last year and it’s only resurfaced in the wake of Mick’s tax dodging scandal, so it looks like he’s the reason she’s bringing it up. But there are those who tend to dress a little more ‘relaxed’ than others – such as Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Richard Boyd Barrett.
So what are people saying about the idea?
Well, Michelle has gotten the backing from several Fine Gael TDs, however, others are saying that there are more important issues to be tackling… like the recession.
Twitter has been fairly divided so far on the issue with users saying the following:
Nothing has been set in stone regarding an actual dress code, but it’s not the first time the idea has been floated around and we can’t see it being the last…
So for the time being, it’s pink t-shirts and bumblebee costumes all round.
