Stop digging your heels in Taoiseach and tackle the issue

“It would be better if the heat were taken out of it, rather than people digging in their heels.”

The words of Pat Rabbitte, the communications minister, on lunchtime radio yesterday alluded to the stubborn approach of Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, who has so far refused to withdraw his “disgusting” comments about gardaí who blew the whistle about the abuse of the penalty points system in the force.

The Labour minister’s words best captured the sort of approach that should have been taken by the Taoiseach and the justice minister months back, when the controversy first began to surface.