European policy is not a foreign affair — it’s a prime ministerial function

PATRICK Honohan is the new Michael O’Leary.

You know the way people who have neither met nor worked for the Ryanair boss nonetheless want him to be put in charge of everything? Same with Patrick Honohan. Professor Popularity, he is, despite not having a plaid shirt to his name.

Patrick Honohan is also the new Sean FitzPatrick. Remember when FitzPatrick was the favourite banker on radio programmes, telling us how to achieve the great future he just knew we had ahead of us? Honohan is selective about his media appearances. But if he feels the longing to go on Morning Ireland, you just know they’ll clear the decks to make room at the microphone for him, no matter what other eminencies were booked for the programme, because, no matter which way you slice him, he’s the go-to guy.