'Stick to the day job', O'Reilly tells singing nurse
When 61-year-old Bolatito Aderemi sang ‘Enough is Enough’ — a reference to possible further pay cuts — the minister just couldn’t resist telling her to “stick to the day job”.
It was like putting a match to the wick of a firework. Having barely contained their displeasure during 20 minutes of ministerial pontification about achievements in the health service, midwives and nurses were outraged at the minister’s parting remark as he walked from the conference room.
“Did you hear what he said?” one hissed. As anger mounted at the insult, INMO vice-president Geraldine Talty reminded delegates they were members of a professional organisation.
“We will not stoop to the minister’s level,” she said.
The minister was on another level entirely, blissfully unaware of having caused grave offence until a handler brought to his attention the talk among journalists.
Bolatito’s presence was hurriedly requested. After a short huddle in the corner of the Glengesh Room in the Mount Errigal Hotel, shielded from the prying eyes of the media, Bolatito, a mother of three from Saggart, Co Dublin, emerged ahead of Dr Reilly.
The minister, she told waiting media, had embarrassed her “big time” but he had apologised and given her a “good handshake” — although she declined his offer of a hug.
She said she accepted his apology on two grounds, firstly that “if somebody offends me and they say they are sorry” then it meant they were sorry. Secondly, her religious beliefs dictate that she accepts apologies “so that God will accept my own apology at any time”. With that, Bolatito returned to her colleagues, if not to the level of anonymity she had previously enjoyed.
Looking suitable shamefaced, Dr Reilly dug his way valiantly out of the third hole he found himself in this week, having already batted off suggestions that plans to extend free GP care were in jeopardy and after being caught at what looked like pretty amateur breakdance moves in a children’s playground.
Dr Reilly said he was “informed that somebody took offence” to his remark and that he had “explained the nature of it and I think we [himself and Bolatito] both understand what I meant. I had absolutely no intention to offend anybody.”
INMO president Claire Mahon said Dr Reilly’s faux pas was “an unfortunate comment to have made” given the very professional reception he had received.
Like Lemony Snicket, Dr Reilly must wonder if there’s any end to his series of unfortunate events.
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