Politics is all about Mercs and perks? Certainly not. On the day Dublin commuters were walking to work, Minister for Transport, Mary O'Rourke told the Dail she abandons the Merc in the early morning and walks to Leinster House. It has nothing to do with being ill-at-ease with the luxuries of office. "I walk for no other reason than my figure and my health."
She has been doing this for some time, she told Green Trevor Sargent, who is famous for either cycling the 19 miles from Balbriggan to his office or putting his bike on the train and pedaling from Amiens Street. "I congratulate him for it" she said. The banter started when Socialist Joe Higgins asked her on Tuesday if she could do a bus driver's job and live comfortably on the salary. O'Rourke replied: "I do not have a D licence. However, I bet I could drive a bus if had."