‘Doing a Hogan’ on the treaty campaign

It was hardly the best omen for a yes campaign that has already got off to a shaky start when the “Stability Treaty” placard proved so unstable it toppled over in the light breeze.

As the Taoiseach and Tánaiste toddled out of Government Buildings to sit behind the little sign for a photo op for stabilitytreaty.ie, the prop was hastily re-erected and placed rather haphazardly on a stand — but, like the treaty it commends, the placard appeared lopsided and slanted to the right.

It was always pretty obvious the sign was bound to fall on its face, but this is now known as “Doing a Hogan” in government circles, named after Feck-It-Up Phil Hogan who invented the Coalition’s ethos that all publicity must be bad publicity.