I would not expect any Government Minister, or any member of Dail Eireann for that matter, to resign. With their salary it would take a lot of principle to opt out. But I firmly believe that Noel Dempsey should be seriously downgraded by Bertie Ahern for the disgraceful manner he has conducted his current role.

The Shannon-Heathrow saga has not gone away, you know, Minister. Then comes this latest cock-up with regard to the driving licence issue in which he has performed sufficient turns, which would enable most provisional licence holders to pass any driving test!

Before leaving the political arena might I say that the very hefty salary increases doled out to the already excessively paid people who are charged with running the country is, to quote the former Fine Gael minister, Paddy Donegan “a thundering disgrace”.

At a time when the health services are in total crisis, mortgages have jumped, and prices for almost everything have sharply increased, for such increases to be implemented leaves the ordinary workingman and woman baffled.

All that is needed is for one member of Government to stand up and state that he/she is willing to forego the monstrous and unwarranted pay hike.

That would jerk the conscience of others but a lead must be given and it certainly will not come from Bertie Ahern who should now knuckle down to running the country or else pack it in and leave somebody else make a start in tackling the hundreds of issues that demand urgent attention.
 
The annual RTE Telethon has come and gone. In excess of €7m was raised for a multitude of charities all over the country.

Nobody could knock such an event. But there are a few matters that warrant a comment.

The purpose of the event was to raise money for local charities. A young woman made a supreme gesture by allowing her head of lovely hair to be shaved. Very commendable if not wise.