Storm in a teacup

COULD Fine Gael be overcompensating a little? Keen to dispel the notion that Enda is ducking a debate, the folk behind the party’s Facebook page are now throwing absolutely everything open to the floor.

LET THEM EAT CRAB

MICHEÁL MARTIN Martin launched Fianna Fáil’s policy to reform the agri-food sector

yesterday, insisting: “There are still people who think of the agri-food sector

as very traditional and more about our past than the future. They couldn’t be more

wrong.”

Micheál has always done his level best to support the sector, most famously en route

to a Cork Munster hurling championship clash in 2004, when a Limerick publican objected

to him having a picnic in his hostelry — with food he had brought along himself.

A bemused Martin couldn’t understand the fuss over his homemade sandwiches and,

er, crab claws. Sure, weren’t they from Cork’s own English Market?

SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS

Good day:

Eamon Gilmore — his party narrowed the gap on Fine Gael by five points, according

to the latest Red C poll.

Bad day:

Eamon Gilmore — The poll’s respondents probably hadn’t heard Labour’s plan to freeze

private sector pay for three years. No interest in increasing the tax take then,

Eamon?

PAPER TALK

All together now

WAS this simply a typo on the Sunday Times front page or might the Fine Gael government

run by Micheál Martin — that some people seem to want — yet be a runner?

SAY WHAT?

Celia on the trail for the Sindo

CELIA LARKIN went on the campaign trail with Mary Fitzpatrick for the Sunday Independent.

Perhaps the more interesting elements of the piece were tucked between the lines.

“There has been much talk of (Cyprian) Brady’s poor first-preference showing at

the last election, but then he was running with Bertie Ahern, a jealous vote-gatherer…”?

TWEET RELIEF

The tide has turned

HAS nobody told Ciaran Lynch those nasty immigrants aren’t interested in us any

more?