Huffing and puffing

RADIO REVIEW:IT CAN'T BE easy for George Lee to slip back into the RTÉ schedules virtually unnoticed, but it must be easier than the long hours he experienced during his short-lived stint as a TD, and, as Lee himself would say, most people these days are glad to have a job. Mind Your Business (RTÉ Radio 1, Saturdays) replaces The Business, which was presented by the same John Murray who will be moving to Ryan Tubridy's old Radio 1 slot. Lee is a big name in broadcasting, but there was really no need for a name change.

The recession is technically over, despite the fact that jobless figures are still on the up. Lee asked his listeners to finish the sentence, “You know the recession is over when . . .” with the prize of a box of chocolates. Jane in Tipperary wrote, “. . . when I start buying takeaway coffee again.” And on they went. The winning entry was from Fergal in Dublin 12: “. . . when it’s once again easier to top up my mortgage than my mobile phone.” Eeek! Have we learned nothing?

It seems like a lifetime ago when Lee was giving it socks as RTÉ’s economics editor. Here he was interviewing comedians and entrepreneurs. His noticeable lack of adversarial spirit and fire-and-brimstone could also be a sign that the recession is nearing its end. Lee even pointed out that it was his production team that picked the winning entry. One had a sneaking feeling he wanted to keep that box of chocolates all for himself.

Moncrieff (Newstalk 106-108, weekdays) embraced the silly season this week during an interview with the “PR guru” Paul Allen, who is a supporter of Fianna Fáil. Discussing the popularity of the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, Allen said, “He doesn’t get up in the morning, as he’s combing his hair, saying: ‘How can I be hated more?’ He’s trying to run the country.” He had a supercilious tone that would make PJ Mara blush to the root of his hair. It was a communications strategy not dissimilar to that of the Government.

Rule 1: Look overseas when asked about the economy (“We need to talk about the global crisis”). Rule 2: When pushed about Fianna Fáil’s lack of responsibility for its failed policies, mention those who “bought five houses in Dubai”. Rule 3: Blame the media (“RTÉ, one of the biggest spin doctors in town”). Rule 4: No need to be logical – this is radio, after all, and your slot only lasts a few minutes (“There’s a long time between the election and now. The tide will turn . . .”)

Moncrieff grilled Allen the way you would barbecue a hamburger: with a few jolly flips and plenty of good cheer. “The only opposition is the media,” Allen said. Moncrieff asked about the Government’s lack of support in polls. “The election is far away; we need stability in the country,” Allen said, adding: “Who in their right mind would want to be in power at the moment in terms of the state of the Government and the country?” He had finally tripped himself up with his own self-confidence. It was the most damning thing even a member of the opposition could say.

The Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, arguably Fianna Fáil’s most articulate spokesman, was on the back foot on Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio 1, weekdays) after the National Asset Management Agency revealed late Tuesday that only 25 per cent – not 40 per cent as previously indicated – of Nama loans produce an income. Cathal Mac Coille asked what a bank would say if a customer changed his business plan so dramatically. “What chance do you think we’d have of getting a loan?” he asked the Minister.

“We didn’t act on the business plan,” Lenihan replied. “We didn’t trust the banks.” It was a fair point, but one that provided cold comfort. Lenihan described “a horrific picture within the banking system where the banks themselves were not assessing their exposures”. Again, yikes.

That being the case, Mac Coille suggested an entire change of guard was in order. “It’s very popular to say let’s execute all bankers tomorrow morning with one fusillade,” Lenihan said. “There has been a very substantial turnover of directors and that will continue.”

Tom Dunne (Newstalk 106-108, weekdays) is usually the place to relive happy days. But the chipper chappy played some sad songs on Wednesday. Maybe he’s quietly worried about going head to head with Tubridy when the latter moves to 2FM. Dunne played Puff the Magic Dragon. “One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more / And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.” Dunne acknowledged that his listeners were already on an emotional roller coaster. “And now you find out Puff is dead.” We could have done without that, in fairness.