Elizabeth stays schtum after TD’s ‘God save us, Queen’
It is rare that one draws comparisons between committed republicans and the British Broad- casting Corporation but last week both failed to see the funny side of Fine Gael TD Michael Ring’s suggestion that maybe the Queen should take us back.
Speaking in the Dáil last week as the country’s financial woes and the Government’s responsibility for our dire straits formed the basis of a heated debate, Mr Ring quipped: “Although we have our independence now, perhaps we should hand the country back to the queen and apologise for the mess we have made of it. When Britain was running the country, at least it didn’t leave us in such a mess or in the hock we are in now.”
The TD, whose grand- uncle was Brigadier Joe Ring who took the Free State side and died because of it in 1921, was bombarded by attacks from outraged republicans venting their spleen at his offering up of our hard-won freedom.
Afterwards he questioned whether those who made the attacks had any sense of humour given the tone of the messages directed his way.
However, the BBC also appeared not to realise the Mayo TD’s humorous intentions and pursued the matter further.
Apparently its news team saw this as a potential first step towards the British Empire being expanded once again and went as far as to ask Buckingham Palace what the royal family’s views were on welcoming back a few million Paddies.
Given Prince Philip’s tendency for colourful commentary on the attributes of those beyond the boundaries of England, never mind Britain, one can only imagine his response when the suggestion was made to the Royal couple while they were walking the corgis.
However, the official response which was made back to the British state broadcaster was short and to the point: no comment from the palace.
Given the banking prowess Ireland has shown in the last few years, she is worried what we might do to the Bank of England’s balance sheet...
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