Turkey grilling fails to ruffle minister

DUSTIN the Turkey gave Education Minister Mary Hanafin one of her toughest grillings to date when she appeared on his TV show yesterday.

The minister was in the firing line from children who phoned in to Dustin’s Dáily News with some of their pet hates about going to school in Ireland.

She did manage to respond well, particularly when the host got his bill into the minister with some pressing political questions.

He was particularly anxious to know what exactly she does - as might be some teachers and schools - but she was quick to fill him in on her duties ranging from pre-school right through to university.

“I think I have the most important job of the whole lot,” she quipped in a reference to her other Cabinet colleagues.

“Well you do, you’ve a more important job than John O’Donoghue, he does nothing,” replied Dustin, although we’re sure he was only joking about the Kerry-based minister’s performance.

With Seachtain na Gaeilge continuing, there were plenty of questions about the use of Irish and the provision of Irish language textbooks.

The minister replied that efforts were being made to translate books more quickly but boasted there is a Gaelscoil in every county - a statistic which brought instant concern to the friendly fowl.

“As long as it doesn’t produce more Hectors,” he interjected, referring to his obvious admiration for fellow broadcaster Hector Ó hEochagáin.

By the time the formalities were complete, Dustin appeared to have taken the minister under his wing, despite his difficulty with the glare from her blue suit.

And her feathers were relatively unruffled by the end, particularly after a 12 out of 12 in Dustin’s quick-fire spelling bee.

She’ll be hoping to repeat her high score with another poll-topping performance at next year’s general election - but Dustin warned her about the up and coming Poultry Party as a potential threat to the Government’s re-election.