Sadly Obama moment and standing ovation did not usher in a new era

DÁIL SKETCH:THE HOUSE had a brief Obama moment yesterday, amidst talk of beheading, political wasters and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan reminding a TD of his educational past.

The Obama moment was provided by Dáil usher Mick Phelan, who has retired after 27 years’ service.

There were cross-party tributes and a standing ovation in a well-deserved salute to a highly-efficient and courteous member of the Leinster House staff.

Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton remarked that he could not remember many people getting a standing ovation from all sides of the House, including the bull pen (where the civil servants sit).

The Green Party’s Mary White referred to his Army experience. “He served admirably in the Congo, and at one time stated, referring to the dangers there . . . if people knew what it was like, they would not have half the fear in Leinster House.”

When the tributes were over, Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, who knows the reality of parliamentary life, remarked: “Let the battle resume.” Bruton was optimistic. “Discord need not necessarily break out straight away,” he said.

Some chance in these electorally tense days.

When the Opposition complained about the Government guillotining legislation, Fine Gael’s Michael Ring suggested that the Coalition should get used to it.

“It is coming soon for them,” he remarked “It is as well they have hard necks,” observed party colleague Bernard Durkan.

Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh confronted the Tánaiste on the plight of the workforce at SR Technics.

“Over 1,000 jobs in SR Technics have been wasted by the Government when there was a possibility of ensuring they could be sustained,” he said.

Minister of State Dick Roche observed: “Deputy Ó Snodaigh is the waster.”

Ó Snodaigh replied: “The Tánaiste is a waster, as is the Government, as anybody working in the industry knows.”

Roche said: “The deputy and his party sought to destroy the country.” The Tánaiste interjected: “I note Deputy Ó Snodaigh has not changed since the time the two of us were in college.” Ó Snodaigh looked perplexed, muttered something to party colleague Martin Ferris and gave the impression that he had no memory of Coughlan as a college colleague.

The Tánaiste came under fire, too, from Labour’s Joan Burton, who said she would be fired if she were on The Apprentice television show.

“We do not need The Apprentice for that,” said Fine Gael’s Charlie Flanagan. “People on the doorsteps are saying it.” The Ceann Comhairle remarked that the doorsteps had nothing to do with the Dáil’s standing orders.

True. But the doosteps, a fraught place for Government canvassers these days, will have everything to do with what is said in the House between now and June 5th.