Aer Lingus transfer - Please sirs, can we have leadership?

EVEN Defence Minister Willie O’Dea cannot have been surprised to have found himself isolated by his Cabinet colleagues yesterday. After maintaining a steadfast silence, it is unimaginable that the Taoiseach or any of his ministers would now make any statement that might undermine Aer Lingus.

Just like the many Fianna Fáil deputies and councillors primed with indignation and fury who assembled in Shannon on Wednesday, Mr O’Dea can predict the direst consequences should the decision not be reversed.

What neither he nor the Fianna Fáil foot soldiers can do is pretend that this whole fiasco is a surprise. Mr O’Dea’s tears are at least questionable and bring a certain theatrical inevitability to the whole, sorry farce.