Independents' day at US ambassador's deer abode

MIRIAM LORD

THE DÁIL Technical Group is in the big time now.

Where once the Independents had to fight to be heard, they now have speaking rights and their loose amalgamation means they get invited to places as a grouping where they never did as a disparate band of individual TDs.

They were invited to a meeting on Tuesday with the US ambassador, Dan Rooney (inset). Six of them called out to see him in Deerpark, his very fine residence in the Phoenix Park.

The ambassador would routinely meet representatives from the political parties, but this was the first time the Independents were invited for a chinwag.

Group leader Finian McGrath was joined by Stephen Donnelly, Mattie McGrath, Noel Grealish, Maureen O’Sullivan and Tom Fleming for the occasion. They enjoyed a very nice lunch with the ambassador and gave their views on national and international issues.

There was much talk of inward investment in Ireland, with Kerry’s Fleming and Tipperary’s Mattie making big pitches for their home counties. Deputy Fleming was told that a US delegation was planning a fact-finding trip to Kerry to check out infrastructure and its suitability as a possible location for US investors.

The fireworks came when international issues were discussed. Finian held forth on Cuba and the Middle East, backed up by Maureen, who raised the Shannon troop movement. Then, with the fascinated Ambassador Rooney looking on, Mattie and Noel took up the cudgels against the other two, arguing for the American angle.

“We’re not like the other parties you meet. We never sing off the same hymnsheet,” explained Finian.

We understand “the broad economic stuff” was left to Stephen Donnelly.

Meanwhile, one of the ambassador’s aides said she was most anxious to meet Deputy McGrath as she had been following the septic-tank issue with great interest.

When Mattie arrived, they had a discussion. She told him she had just paid a $4,000 (€3,041) maintenance bill for her septic tank back home in the US.

“If it was in Ireland, you’d probably be paying 25 grand!” he shot back.

Afterwards, Deputy McGrath described the two-hour meeting as “very successful. We pitched for US investment in Ireland and feel we got a very positive reception.”

Ambassador Rooney, who owns the Pittsburgh Steelers American football team, presented the deputies with Steelers badges.

Finian told Dan he would send him a copy of his CD in return.

“Don’t!” roared the members of the technical group, fearing that such a move would undo all the good work they had just done.

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