Today Show with Sarah McInerney

hotmail.com

Infoanon wrote: »

TWSS - you are working. Different scheme.

For months is has been known that you would not receive the PUP scheme if you travelled.
Clearly the advice is do not travel.

O'Dea was talking nonsense and Sarah for whatever reason didn't pick him up on any of it.

O'Dea made the point correctly that there are no jobs available at the moment. This isn't nonsense.

It's unnecessarily mean and clearly targeting people in the service industry, who are the main people on PUP.

Tell me how

hotmail.com wrote: »

O'Dea made the point correctly that there are no jobs available at the moment. This isn't nonsense.

It's unnecessarily mean and clearly targeting people in the service industry, who are the main people on PUP.

Not to mention coming on top of the announcement that Ireland was successful in challenging the EU that Apple owed tax money. They're not directly comparable, but from an optics perspective, it is a complete own goal.

Between that and Pascal saying super junior ministers had to get a pay rise of 16K so they were being paid the same as others doing the same job was literally giving 2 fingers to teachers and medical professionals who still haven't achieved pay parity with colleagues after changes made for new entrants since the 2008 crash.

And to put icing on to the top of this cake of PR ineptitude, the stories of Barry Cowen, Eamonn Ryan sleeping have been accompanied with announcements of a huge number of advisors being appointed.

The pride people felt about our government only a few months ago has all but evaporated.

At this rate, Mary Lou could be Taoiseach by Christmas.

dominatinMC

Tell me how wrote: »

Not to mention coming on top of the announcement that Ireland was successful in challenging the EU that Apple owed tax money. They're not directly comparable, but from an optics perspective, it is a complete own goal.

Between that and Pascal saying super junior ministers had to get a pay rise of 16K so they were being paid the same as others doing the same job was literally giving 2 fingers to teachers and medical professionals who still haven't achieved pay parity with colleagues after changes made for new entrants since the 2008 crash.

And to put icing on to the top of this cake of PR ineptitude, the stories of Barry Cowen, Eamonn Ryan sleeping have been accompanied with announcements of a huge number of advisors being appointed.

The pride people felt about our government only a few months ago has all but evaporated.

At this rate, Mary Lou could be Taoiseach by Christmas.

Is this not a strawman argument. Whataboutery. Without deflecting to other issues, why not stick to the actual topic. People who are in receipt of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment are obliged to comply with certain criteria and conditions. One of these being "if you are genuinely seeking work". So, if one of these recipients is on holidays (which they are perfectly entitled to do), then that would preclude them from seeking work. Hence, the payment is cut. I don't really see the issue. Government ministers getting a pay rise is an entirely separate issue IMO. It's wrong and I don't agree with it, and the optics certainly look bad, but ultimately irrelevant. If I don't pay my taxes, I'm punished, but should I be exempt because Apple didn't pay theirs?

Tell me how

dominatinMC wrote: »

Is this not a strawman argument. Whataboutery. Without deflecting to other issues, why not stick to the actual topic. People who are in receipt of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment are obliged to comply with certain criteria and conditions. One of these being "if you are genuinely seeking work". So, if one of these recipients is on holidays (which they are perfectly entitled to do), then that would preclude them from seeking work. Hence, the payment is cut. I don't really see the issue. Government ministers getting a pay rise is an entirely separate issue IMO. It's wrong and I don't agree with it, and the optics certainly look bad, but ultimately irrelevant. If I don't pay my taxes, I'm punished, but should I be exempt because Apple didn't pay theirs?

No, it's not necessarily whataboutery because I am referring to the optics of it all more so than the black and white legality of it. And this, added to the optics of the Apple case do not show the government in a positive light.

Like Leo doing a photoshoot before saying that welfare cheats are stealing from all of us but then taking a soft approach with Maria Bailey.

None of what has happened is enough yet to collapse a government but they are certainly changing how they are it being perceived and if a major scandal does happen and there's a divide amongst the parties, then SF only have to do what Joe Biden is doing in the US and let the incumbents shoot themselves in the foot.

Brendan Bendar

dominatinMC wrote: »

Is this not a strawman argument. Whataboutery. Without deflecting to other issues, why not stick to the actual topic. People who are in receipt of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment are obliged to comply with certain criteria and conditions. One of these being "if you are genuinely seeking work". So, if one of these recipients is on holidays (which they are perfectly entitled to do), then that would preclude them from seeking work. Hence, the payment is cut. I don't really see the issue. Government ministers getting a pay rise is an entirely separate issue IMO. It's wrong and I don't agree with it, and the optics certainly look bad, but ultimately irrelevant. If I don't pay my taxes, I'm punished, but should I be exempt because Apple didn't pay theirs?

Correct, this was flagged when the COVID scheme was launched.

If you dont want to be bound by the conditions , don’t accept the money.

It’s very simple, but again the govt make a total bollox of it, leaving a free unfettered field for the media and the scones from the left make hay.

Then they afraid to send out someone to defend the shambles.

Incredible incompetence.

If the govt has to row back on this the coin who signed off on this should be sacked immediately .

Tell me how

^^^

The fact that something was made clear (which I think many would still argue with giving conflicting messages still on offical channels) is only incidental in the impact that this is having.
I don't agree with a lot of what this fella comes out (certainly not in relation to Covid) but it is hard to argue with the view that government policy/strategy is targeting one group over another unfairly.

https://twitter.com/paddycosgrave/status/1287482138770776067

Robert McGrath

Tell me how wrote: »

^^^

The fact that something was made clear (which I think many would still argue with giving conflicting messages still on offical channels) is only incidental in the impact that this is having.
I don't agree with a lot of what this fella comes out (certainly not in relation to Covid) but it is hard to argue with the view that government policy/strategy is targeting one group over another unfairly.

https://twitter.com/paddycosgrave/status/1287482138770776067

That Sunday Times article is inaccurate

Mad_maxx

Infoanon wrote: »

TWSS - you are working. Different scheme.

For months is has been known that you would not receive the PUP scheme if you travelled.
Clearly the advice is do not travel.

O'Dea was talking nonsense and Sarah for whatever reason didn't pick him up on any of it.

Nothing remotely surprising about that, RTE love the narrative about the "vulnerable "being discriminated against

O Dea was saying what Sarah- RTE wanted to hear

Mad_maxx

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

Despicable by O’Dea the little weasel trying to have a foot in every camp, and yes Sarah should have taken a stronger line.

This ‘ you can’t do this but “aaaah shure’ utter crap should be stamped out.

O’Reilly at the same game and again Sarah tossed the passes to her to tap the ball into the net

Saying people were “living it up” and suggesting that people were using the COVID cash to “ pay for their holiday”.

Back to original point.... Willie o Dea and his ilk need voting out of the Dail havent the balls of a fieldmouse when the hard views are needed.

Total churns

O dea has a big long term welfare vote in limerick City

He's a cheap populist who would put any healy rae to shame

Brendan Bendar

Mad_maxx wrote: »

O dea has a big long term welfare vote in limerick City

He's a cheap populist who would put any healy rae to shame

He proved it this morning, useless scraping of helmet cheese.

So it seems there's been clarity today following the Tanaiste's interview last Friday with Sarah McInerney.

There is general advice not to travel abroad, but there are now exemptions to that advice – the Green List. For countries on this list, there is no advice against non essential travel, but travellers are to exercise "normal precaution" (see attached image of Twitter link doesn't open).

It would seem that the Tanaiste knew of the update on last Friday's programme, but maybe it hadn't been finalised, hence his somewhat garbled explanation.

https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1287717318789935104?s=19

Infoanon

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

So it seems there's been clarity today following the Tanaiste's interview last Friday with Sarah McInerney.

There is general advice not to travel abroad, but there are now exemptions to that advice – the Green List. For countries on this list, there is no advice against non essential travel, but travellers are to exercise "normal precaution" (see attached image of Twitter link doesn't open).

It would seem that the Tanaiste knew of the update on last Friday's programme, but maybe it hadn't been finalised, hence his somewhat garbled explanation.

https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1287717318789935104?s=19

Leo was badly prepared on Friday full stop. The travel message has been confused and Leo only added to the confusion and mixed messaging and Sarah showed up his blustering during the interview.

Leo is normally good on detail but on Fridays show he was found wanting.

As for the latest advice.....the health NPHET advice has not changed so this probably has a lot more to do with business pressures and insurance.

Mad_maxx

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

He proved it this morning, useless scraping of helmet cheese.

My least favourite TD in the Dail

imme

Tell me how wrote: »

At this rate, Mary Lou could be Taoiseach by Christmas.

Mary Lou would be sure to keep discipline!
Paddy Houlihan 'the hooligan' is surely a good advertisement there.

I didn't know that they were nominating him for Cathaoirleach was the message that came from SF.

I thought they knew everything.

I don't see any way that Mary Lou could become taoiseach in the current Dail.

imme

Sarah has been saying that she's confused a lot lately about foreign travel.

Is she doing her job or pushing for the full-time gig.

Infoanon

Infoanon wrote: »

As for the latest advice.....the health NPHET advice has not changed so this probably has a lot more to do with business pressures and insurance.

There might also be some tension between the Government and NPHET on ending the advice against non-essential travel. You'd get the impression that the Government is less adherent to NPHET now. If they haven't yet parted company, they're certainly now keeping to their own lanes.

I don't think this is a bad thing. As much as most of us trust NPHET, you can't have medical experts running the country indefinitely. Some tension between them is probably healthy, it keeps them both on their toes.

Infoanon

Well one thing is for sure ,thanks to Sarahs interview techniques the disastrous start for this government has been laid bare for all to be seen.

NPHET - advice based in medical evidence is ignored by any government at its peril.

Next instalment at 10am tomorrow !

dulpit

imme wrote: »

Sarah has been saying that she's confused a lot lately about foreign travel.

Is she doing her job or pushing for the full-time gig.

That's her doing her job. Sean O'Rourke was good at this too, you have to remember that your audience is who you are the voice of. So sometimes your questions will come across as a bit silly or repetitive, but if you're good at it it'll be a fair reflection of the listenership.

I remember SOR had someone on to explain pr-stv in the lead up to the general election. Now obviously he knew all about it, but still had to play dumb so that the guest could explain for Joe and Jane Public.

Cole

dulpit wrote: »

That's her doing her job. Sean O'Rourke was good at this too, you have to remember that your audience is who you are the voice of. So sometimes your questions will come across as a bit silly or repetitive, but if you're good at it it'll be a fair reflection of the listenership.

I remember SOR had someone on to explain pr-stv in the lead up to the general election. Now obviously he knew all about it, but still had to play dumb so that the guest could explain for Joe and Jane Public.

I get the point you're making, but facilitating an explanation of a complex voting system for the listeners is a hell of a lot different to 'playing dumb' and just adding to the (supposed) confusion around pretty clear advice...imo.

Brendan Bendar

Cole wrote: »

I get the point you're making, but facilitating an explanation of a complex voting system for the listeners is a hell of a lot different to 'playing dumb' and just adding to the (supposed) confusion around pretty clear advice...imo.

Correct..all contrived confusion.

Infoanon

Cole wrote: »

I get the point you're making, but facilitating an explanation of a complex voting system for the listeners is a hell of a lot different to 'playing dumb' and just adding to the (supposed) confusion around pretty clear advice...imo.

So clear that the FG TD came on later on the same show and contradicted what Leo says.

So clear that RTE are using the exchange between Sarah and Leo in on air promos for the show.....

Cole

Cole wrote: »

I get the point you're making, but facilitating an explanation of a complex voting system for the listeners is a hell of a lot different to 'playing dumb' and just adding to the (supposed) confusion around pretty clear advice...imo.

When it comes to public health advice, it's even more important to get an interviewee to speak as clearly and concisely as possible. There should be no ambiguity.

I'm actually a little amazed that anyone would think Sarah McInerney is such a dolt as to be incapable of interpreting meaning and subtext. The whole point of her being there is to understand both, and to ensure the listener does too.

Similarly, you'll often hear Mary Wilson (who for years was a courts reporter) ask the most basic questions about how the courts work, when she could probably write a book on it. None of this impedes public understanding, it facilitates it.

It is a question of style though, others prefer a more interjective approach. Pat Kenny will sometimes demonstrate his knowledge of fluid mechanics or mechanical-ventilation systems to a somewhat flummoxed guest, before asking a vaguely related question (several recent examples).

Cole

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

When it comes to public health advice, it's even more important to get an interviewee to speak as clearly and concisely as possible. There should be no ambiguity.

I completely agree and while the advice has not always been communicated as clearly as it should be (e.g. Leo last week), it is clear. Therefore, because of the seriousness of the advice, Sarah should help the listener to understand/clarify rather than adding to the confusion.

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I'm actually a little amazed that anyone would think Sarah McInerney is such a dolt as to be incapable of interpreting meaning and subtext. The whole point of her being there is to understand both, and to ensure the listener does too.

I already acknowledged Sarah's obvious intelligence earlier in the thread, so I think it's (as already said in the thread) just contrived 'confusion'...so as above again for Sarah. I think we (well most of us) know that Sarah is 'playing dumb', so I'm a little amazed too that I have to clarify this.

Cole

Cole wrote: »

I completely agree and while the advice has not always been communicated as clearly as it should be (e.g. Leo last week), it is clear.

I might be misremembering but were you not saying last week that Leo indicated the advice was against unnecessary foreign travel?

Those of us who said he didn't were told we were exaggerating, then the advice officially changed.

imme

Infoanon wrote: »

So clear that the FG TD came on later on the same show and contradicted what Leo says.

So clear that RTE are using the exchange between Sarah and Leo in on air promos for the show.....

Don't travel unless it is an emergency, a holiday is not an emergency,

It gives Dying For A Holiday a whole new meaning.

They're using Leo for the promo as it is topical.

Politicians and Broadcasters who say they're confused in the media are headline seeking imo.

imme

imme wrote: »

Don't travel unless it is an emergency, a holiday is not an emergency,

That's not the Government advice for Green List countries, they changed it yesterday.

imme wrote: »

They're using Leo for the promo as it is topical.

Politicians and Broadcasters who say they're confused in the media are headline seeking imo.

They're using Varadkar as the promo because he garbled the message, he obviously had known the advice was changing, and McInerney picked up on it. She should be praised for spotting it, that's her job.

Varadkar was on Newstalk the same morning, at Pat Kenny just breezed by it. He missed a trick there.

Klonker

Marc MacSherry on saying a lot in the public sector are not working at all and getting full pay and are basically taking the p1ss. I actually can't believe a politician is being so straight shooting and not backing down from his comments but I agree 100%, we need a few more politicians like him

dulpit

Klonker wrote: »

Marc MacSherry on saying a lot in the public sector are not working at all and getting full pay and are basically taking the p1ss. I actually can't believe a politician is being so straight shooting and not backing down from his comments but I agree 100%, we need a few more politicians like him

How many days have the Dáil sat since election? How many committees are up and running? How many days off will they be getting for the summer break now? What a load of rubbish from Marc MacSharry...

amlinopta

Tampax unable to provide a spokesperson to appear on Sarah’s program as “it’s the peak holiday PERIOD”. Brilliant

Fann Linn

Klonker wrote: »

Marc MacSherry on saying a lot in the public sector are not working at all and getting full pay and are basically taking the p1ss. I actually can't believe a politician is being so straight shooting and not backing down from his comments but I agree 100%, we need a few more politicians like him

Or, when your party in govt is falling around like a drunken sailor, stir up the auld public/private debate to deflect.

Klonker

Klonker wrote: »

Marc MacSherry on saying a lot in the public sector are not working at all and getting full pay and are basically taking the p1ss. I actually can't believe a politician is being so straight shooting and not backing down from his comments but I agree 100%, we need a few more politicians like him

Mack the Knife, the Sequel. It wasn't off the stones he licked it.

Klonker

dulpit wrote: »

How many days have the Dáil sat since election? How many committees are up and running? How many days off will they be getting for the summer break now? What a load of rubbish from Marc MacSharry...

I think to claim the government are not busy or working hard at the moment is not true, considering all the effects that every department is facing due to the coronavirus. I don't agree with the 6 week break but a TD is a strange job and this won't be a 6 week break for them, they all still have jobs to do and people to represent.

Fann Linn wrote: »

Or, when your party in govt is falling around like a drunken sailor, stir up the auld public/private debate to deflect.

I agree the government so far has been a mess and FF in particular are to blame for that. I'm not sure Marc's comments are a welcome distraction, more so it'll be more criticism for FF but I agree with him and I'm glad he's not apologising and standing his ground.

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Mack the Knife, the Sequel. It wasn't off the stones he licked it.

Cheers, I didn't realise he was part of a dynasty! Was doing a bit of googleing there. I think it's great to see politicians not afraid to put forward their views and opinions.

NickNickleby

Klonker wrote: »

...



I agree the government so far has been a mess and FF in particular are to blame for that. I'm not sure Marc's comments are a welcome distraction, more so it'll be more criticism for FF but I agree with him and I'm glad he's not apologising and standing his ground.



.

Other than gossip, or a quote from a publicity seeking (insert epithet of choice), what evidence do you provide to back up this horrendous slur . I have family members who are Civil Servants, and they work hard for their sh!t wages (average 31k) GROSS , doing unpaid extra hours, even NOW, during the lockdown. Bad enough, but then have this sh!t thrown at them as well. If I seem somewhat outraged, I'm actually being far more polite than I feel.

imme

NickNickleby wrote: »

Other than gossip, or a quote from a publicity seeking (insert epithet of choice), what evidence do you provide to back up this horrendous slur . I have family members who are Civil Servants, and they work hard for their sh!t wages (average 31k) GROSS , doing unpaid extra hours, even NOW, during the lockdown. Bad enough, but then have this sh!t thrown at them as well. If I seem somewhat outraged, I'm actually being far more polite than I feel.

That doesn't sound very fair, have they tried to do anything about it.

Are the unpaid extra hours worked for free seriously?

NickNickleby

imme wrote: »

That doesn't sound very fair, have they tried to do anything about it.

Are the unpaid extra hours worked for free seriously?

Absolutely, given a task to complete, with no discussion as to how to do x hours worth of work in the time available - therefore, they will work late either at home or in the office (both scenarios apply). In fairness, its not every day, but its regular enough to notice, but not regular enough to get antsy about it. Basically, they just get on with it. In further fairness, it mainly only happens to two of the three of them, but they're all equally committed to doing a good job. Which is why I get angry when I read some things that are said. I'm not going to speculate as to how widespread laziness could be - its the human condition, so slackers won't be confined to the CS. But reading M Mc S and his admirers' comments would suggest it is.

In the interests of full and honest disclosure, I've worked in the CS/PS and private sector. I've met dossers in all three, but wouldn't characterise any one sector as standing out from the others in any respect. In my experience.

Honest people who want to work and do a good job, will do it regardless of where they work. And vice-versa.

Klonker

Klonker wrote: »

Cheers, I didn't realise he was part of a dynasty! Was doing a bit of googleing there. I think it's great to see politicians not afraid to put forward their views and opinions.

Just listened back now.

Very impressive. He's absolutely correct. There are Government agencies and offices that won't open when even the pubs are open. I too have encountered one public body where nobody seems to be working from home. I wonder if it is the same one he refers to.

If they can't work from home like the rest of us, then don't claim a full salary for 4 months and counting.

Infoanon

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Just listened back now.

Very impressive. He's absolutely correct. There are Government agencies and offices that won't open when even the pubs are open. I too have encountered one public body where nobody seems to be working from home. I wonder if it is the same one he refers to.
.

The working from home is a bit of a red herring - there are fundamental issues with the public sector and while there are some excellent staff I to often have had experiences which if they occurred in the private sector would result in doors been shown.
Friends who work in the public sector have long complained about the inefficient work practises.
Marc McSharry had a point but there are too many voters at play to upset the apple cart.

Sir Guy who smiles

Klonker wrote: »

Marc MacSherry on saying a lot in the public sector are not working at all and getting full pay and are basically taking the p1ss. I actually can't believe a politician is being so straight shooting and not backing down from his comments but I agree 100%, we need a few more politicians like him

So what public sector office(s) was doing nothing during the lockdown?

Sir Guy who smiles

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Just listened back now.

Very impressive. He's absolutely correct. There are Government agencies and offices that won't open when even the pubs are open. I too have encountered one public body where nobody seems to be working from home. I wonder if it is the same one he refers to.

If they can't work from home like the rest of us, then don't claim a full salary for 4 months and counting.

Care to give specifics? There's no need to be so vague

Beechwoodspark

As someone with vulnerable family I was dragged kicking and screaming back to my job driving as a sales rep in mid May.

I didn’t want to, i resisted it as much as I could. but i was borderline forced to with implicit threats.

It’s a bit rich that some civil servants won’t even be returning to work when the pubs are back open.

Infoanon

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

As someone with vulnerable family I was dragged kicking and screaming back to my job driving as a sales rep in mid May.

I didn’t want to, i resisted it as much as I could. but i was borderline forced to with implicit threats.

It’s a bit rich that some civil servants won’t even be returning to work when the pubs are back open.

Marc let himself get side tracked with civil servants working from home which I don't believe was the main thrust of his argument.

Regarding your own situation this is unfortunate, there is advice to employers and as one solicitor put it to me any employer who does not take heed is rather foolish. Alas there are foolish employers out there.

As an aside it's government advice AND medium term government strategy for people that can work from home to work from home.

NickNickleby

I haven't read the whole thread, so I'm unfamiliar with the scenario whereby there are more than 2 options: go to the office, or work from home. In the case of the family members, they are working from home(their own homes) and two of them have been asked to attend in the office on specific days for tasks that can't be handled remotely, with proper precautions in place. In one office, staff are being redeployed because of reduced workload. I don't know how 'voluntary' this is, but its not really defensible to refuse if you've little to do - so people have gone.

So the stay at home and do nothing option seems very strange.

I'm talking about the new generation of Civil Servants, people who have years of private sector experience and min degree level qualifications. Maybe there are dinosaurs, but I was 60(a dinosaur? :pac:) when I was working as a TCO, and I worked my socks off. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Sir Guy who smiles

Sir Guy who smiles wrote: »

Care to give specifics? There's no need to be so vague

Well there's a limit of how much anyone is going to write here about their personal affairs. But I rang a public body about a fairly urgent matter. If involved a deadline and I needed a document. Farm related. No joy in the phone. I emailed and emailed and, got a reply two weeks later, now days after the deadline, to say "sorry, the office is currently not operating as normal".

This was only a few weeks ago, after the lockdown.

As things like this keep happening. I can see how people might get frustrated.

Infoanon

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

As things like this keep happening. I can see how people might get frustrated.

This is not a new phenomenon - things like what you have described have been going on for decades.

There is a new breed now in some departments and it is making a difference however I have numerous experiences from pre covid lockdown this year that show old habits die hard.

Infoanon

Infoanon wrote: »

This is not a new phenomenon - things like what you have described have been going on for decades.

There is a new breed now in some departments and it is making a difference however I have numerous experiences from pre covid lockdown this year that show old habits die hard.

It's a mixed bag. You have great people in any workplace and you have slackers, that's not a public sector thing. As Sarah McInerney pointed out today, thousands of public workers have done an heroic job in the past few months. We owe them gratitude and better working conditions.

But there does seem to be another side to the public service that has taken its foot off the pedal and is slow.to reapply it.

Sir Guy who smiles

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Well there's a limit of how much anyone is going to write here about their personal affairs. But I rang a public body about a fairly urgent matter. If involved a deadline and I needed a document. Farm related. No joy in the phone. I emailed and emailed and, got a reply two weeks later, now days after the deadline, to say "sorry, the office is currently not operating as normal".

This was only a few weeks ago, after the lockdown.

As things like this keep happening. I can see how people might get frustrated.

You could have just named the body, noone would have known anything about your personal affairs.

There's no excuse for the lack of email service, but I wonder if reports about phones not being answered are deluxe to the adoption of VOIP systems. They don't seem to ever produce engaged tones or disconnected tones; when our phones are out people ringing them just get a ringing tone. With VOIP phones being diverted to mobiles at people working away from the office people might be getting ringing tones when the person they are diverted to is on the phone.

This doesn't just happen in the public service; when I ring my vet you get a constant ringing tone and no engaged tone, but when you get through they tell you someone was on the phone.

Infoanon

Sir Guy who smiles wrote: »

You could have just named the body, noone would have known anything about your personal affairs.

There's no excuse for the lack of email service, but I wonder if reports about phones not being answered .

Phones in certain departments are allowed ring out.

Certain departments within the department won't answer there phones to each other.

imme

Collette Brown was funny having a Mary Lou moment with her mans-splanning jibe.

Will she reinvent herself as SF's legal counsel.

Far stranger things have happened.

Is there any value to having columnists on the show.

el_gaucho

imme wrote: »

Collette Brown was funny having a Mary Lou moment with her mans-splanning jibe.

Will she reinvent herself as SF's legal counsel.

Far stranger things have happened.

Is there any value to having columnists on the show.

It’s a pity he didn’t challenge her on that. She would be the first to complain about any sexist comment if it was aimed at her.

Brendan Bendar

el_gaucho wrote: »

It’s a pity he didn’t challenge her on that. She would be the first to complain about any sexist comment if it was aimed at her.

Didn’t hear it all, it seemed like a re run of a Vincent Browne prog.

That is, stacked deck + the presenter against one Govt. rep who handled things quite didn’t lie down and take the shït coming from Collette Browne and others including McInerney.

Govt need to get well informed pipe swingers to get in amongst these media dogs and take them on at their own game.

They also need not to put out anything that is not absolutely watertight and cut the supply line to these folk.

And that’s the minimum they should do...... they have six weeks to straighten out otherwise a further dose of this stuff will sink them.

Six weeks......