FF ‘heroes’ opt for a session in the recession

WELL done to the Fianna Fáil backbenchers — those brave defenders of rural Ireland whose voices echo so loudly in the parliamentary party rooms that even a minister whose record for draconian legislation is known throughout the country would be stopped in his tracks by their booming protests.

We should all raise a pint glass to those who are saving rural Ireland from ruin. Those brave souls who will stand against injustice. Those Soldiers of Destiny who voted against the cervical cancer vaccine for teenage girls, who stripped the medical card from the elderly, who deny children with learning difficulties the education they deserve.

Let’s all drink heartily to these patriots who were silent when the farmers were stripped of their REPS payments, their disadvantaged area payments, their installation aid and their early retirement. And while farmers in rural Ireland can scarcely afford the price of a pint given that milk, cattle and grain prices have fallen below the cost of production — fear not, your local FF backbencher will make sure you can drive home if you do rattle together a few euro for a pint or two.

So “sláinte” to the FF backbencher (well soon enough anyway). Hypocrisy is certainly not an accusation that can be hurled easily at these heroes. After all, haven’t a number of them proven their driving competence after a few jars. Sure a drink or two after the races never hurt anybody — nor did a jaunt up the wrong lane of the motorway.

Rural Ireland is saved, and the men who put the session in the recession will make sure they will fight for your priorities, your rights, and “some” of your livelihoods.

Jonathan Hoare

Na Cilliní

Baile Mhic Íre

Co Chorcaí