Cowen stumbles, Kenny could fall, but Gilmore and Gormley are flying

IT IS always tempting to begin a column about Irish politicians at this time of year by writing “as they head off for the summer”, but out of respect for Independent TD Finian McGrath I decided not to do so.

McGrath — a decent man, but too frequently a voluble moaner — chastised the media earlier this week for “telling the whole country that we have all gone on 11 weeks’ holidays”. He points out that many of his colleagues are in the Dáil, working on committees and doing constituency work. But, bless him, he did write, “I have no problem with journalists having a go at TDs”.

That’s good to know, Finian. TDs should be busy at the moment; they get paid a lot of money to do their work, the country is heading into recession and they haven’t exactly covered themselves in glory in the year since the last general election, have they?