Talk of Pat suspended as PDs’ chief rallies the flag-waving troops

WAVE your flags for Ireland, for the maiden speech of your leader, for Pat watching us at home.

This was the PDs’ national conference, with deputy leader Liz O’Donnell ushering on her party chief Michael McDowell to triumphant flag-waving in scenes reminiscent of US presidential rallies.

The ghost of the Labour Party leader, simply referred to as the “Johnny-Come-Lately to tax cuts”, had lingered over the conference until this moment.