The Healy Raes

OK Slimey is that better? And that is no reflection on ethnicity/sexuality/class, just a comment on his personal handling of situations that he has found himself in.

The fact that Leo has had to resort to lowering himself (as he does quite often) to using his sexuality as something to defend himself with is just childish and shows someone who has no other means of defense when questions are asked. Its a deflection tactic.

I never thought "class" would come into Irish politics. Obviously some people on here think "class" is an issue. Is that making people in Ireland "better" than they actually are? As far as I am aware the only "class" of people in Ireland that is separate from "normal" people are those that think they are morally and socially untouchable thanks to the contacts they have.

Leo taught MHR nothing.

The only thing that was on display in this childishness is that the supposed second in command of the Government took an innocent well used phrase personally and turned it into a personal agenda.

I hope for those in supermarkets that he never buys "fairy liquid" or goes to a Panto with a Fairy Godmother, as this could cause more indignation.

That's Healy-Rae kriptonite, something which shows positioning themselves for their own ends, creaming it off the top whilst identifying as a common man who 'ates' his dinner in the middle of the day.

They're parasites. Too cute to join a party, I dislike Leo but he was on the nose saying they would have to make unpopular vote-costing decisions if they weren't independents.

And the people in Dublin elected Eamon Ryan, Brid Smith and Paul Murphy.

Well none that seem to be as petty or as unprofessional as ours.

You're wrong.

Totally agree.

I'm a Dub & I've heard & used the term "airy-fairy" all my life. I have never heard or read it as "go on away with the airy-fairies and see where that gets you". I'll wager Michael Healy Ray has never used in such a way before either. The problem is most people see the Healy Rays as ignorant dinosaurs. They are not. They are clever men well capable of turning a phrase to mean something different

This isn't the states, we speak a slightly different version of English here where some words have different meanings. The twisting of words to suit a political aim is a path that leads to an Orwellian place.

As you may guess from my username I am a Kerryman. I have never voted for the Healy Raes but, really think this Leo stuff has been blown out of all proportion. Leo had a good reply and then tried to twist the knife by making out it was a homophobic remark. As for the Healy Rae clan, local government contracts, expenses etc. My attitude has always been if the systems were not set up to be abused then it couldn't happen.

Nearly every TD has some family member on their payroll in some guise or other. Irish politics has long been seen as some sort of gravy train or a avenue to 'milk the system'. From brown envelopes at local level for rezoning, Lowry and the telecoms licence at national level. Lawlor, Haughey, McSharry, Bertie and all the messing with tendered contracts at local level.