‘Ivor the Engine’ huffs and puffs

EMERGING fresh from his own troubles yesterday, Transport Minister Martin Cullen quickly landed his closest departmental colleague in political hot water.

On Monday, Junior Transport Minister Ivor Callely - allegedly known as ‘Ivor the Engine’ - announced a €16bn package involving new rail services, an airport metro, a new train station in Dublin and an underground connector linking Heuston and Connolly stations.

It sounded fantastic - but there was one problem. Ivor not only jumped the gun, but apparently imagined some of the measures.

In a master class of how to divert attention away from oneself while tossing a live grenade into the lap of another hapless soul, Mr Cullen rounded on his junior colleague.

“His announcements to the fourth estate are just guesswork, they’re not based on any fact,” he told the Dáil.

Exit Ivor the Engine, enter the new “Minister for Fantasy” as Enda Kenny quickly dubbed the South Dublin TD.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the Government was preparing a 10-year plan - which had not been finalised.

So Mr Callely is wiping egg from his face. Sitting smugly beside his leader, Mr Cullen couldn’t help but chuckle.