Rude attitude to Taoiseach Kenny

Your political editor, Paul O’Brien, was insulting and rude to Taoiseach Enda Kenny after the press conference outside Government Buildings on Jun 1 after the yes side victory in the vote.

Mr O’Brien asked Kenny if he was competent to negotiate on Ireland’s behalf, following his alleged failure to debate the treaty issue here at home. I assume that Mr O’Brien was referring to the fact that the Taoiseach failed to take up the offer of TV3 to host a debate between himself and Mr Adams, a matter which TV3 apparently went public with before asking the Taoiseach. Kenny rightly replied that he did not want to confer status of leader of opposition on Mr Adams.

I would remind Mr O’Brien that the yes side won handsomely in tough times, in contrast to the failure of Mr Ahern and Mr Cowen to win Nice 1 and Lisbon 1 respectively in so-called good times, and I don’t recall such venom being directed at either of them, especially Mr Cowen who also said he did not even read the Lisbon Treaty.