Thousands of Irish people may have been burnt by the sun in recent days, but Irish MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan found himself burnt online by airline Aer Lingus yesterday in a Twitter spat.

I remember when August 15 was the turning point in summer. A last festival, both holiday and holy day. It was the end of the builders’ holidays (and for lots of other businesses that closed for the first two weeks in August, too).

Independent TDs have rounded on Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and called on the outspoken politician to leave the Dáil’s technical group because his penalty points shame is distracting from business.

A Cabinet minister has attacked Independent TD Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, suggesting his actions in having his penalty points quashed have damaged the reputation of politicians in general.