Bad, bad Noel Dempsey and the realpolitik of third-level fees

AT first glance, Noel Dempsey and Enda Kenny don’t seem to have much in common. But both are currently falling foul of a new form of communication. It’s a sort of patois that might be called Omigod, because it started with that phrase.

Omigod, depending on volume, stridency and accompanying gestures, can refer disapprovingly to anything from a bad smell to a comparable individual, or approvingly to anything from a new pair of shoes to a successful job application. Trust me: if you don't know the safe response to a piece of news, going "Omigod" will cover you.

The newest kid on the Omigod block is "Shut up!" It signifies delight, approbation and a desire to be told more. If a young woman announces her engagement, friends who are delighted by the news will holler "Shut up!"