Two realities acknowledged - Perception and politics

HOW very fickle public judgement can be — and how much more fickle politicians’ judgements can be.

Earlier this week, Health Minister Leo Varadkar was rightly praised for publicly acknowledging his sexuality. His, for a member of Government at least, groundbreaking announcement earned him considerable kudos and enhanced his reputation. Setting aside the fact that he had to do so reflects more on us than it does on Mr Varadkar. His decision was transparent and if it helps even one person overcome misgivings about revealing their sexuality, it is even more laudable.

Contrast that reaction to the one that Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney got to his suggestion that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil might be suitors after the election. Poll figures are so damning for the Coalition that Mr Coveney and his colleagues, those in Labour too, would be plain stupid not to consider all of the alternatives. Suggestions that he made the remarks to try to steal Mr Varadkar’s thunder are off the mark too as the interview he gave to this newspaper in which he made the observation about Fianna Fáil was conducted weeks before Mr Varadkar’s announcement. Mr Coveney’s remarks did no more than point to an anachronism — that has stymied progress in this country for decades. If election results force its resolution then so much the better.