Politicians are desperate for celebrity makeover

Martin Cullen or Beverly Flynn? Both had a dismal week of it. But they needn't worry. There is one powerful consolation.

Most 16 year-olds in the country don't know who the hell they are in the first place.

Charlie Haughey was wont to say that the only opinion polls he put any store in were general elections. He had a point. Mid-term polls ask people (other than the crowd who already have FF, FG, or whatever stamped into their DNA) questions about allegiances they haven't given a moment's thought to. Others confirm the blatantly obvious. Like the one which came out during the week telling us that for most teenagers, domestic politics ranks up there in importance with elevator muzak. About 5% could name all the TDs in their constituency. And poor old Pat Cox. There he has been modestly saving the world over the past couple of years, yet the only Cox they recognise is the control-freak in Friends.