Exactly, Sharon.

I couldn’t agree more, this was a comment made by Deputy Wallace, nothing to do with Ming Flanagan, non issue really, move on!!!

It is an absolute non-story but unfortunately a lot of people care about it.

Mike, I’d be hoping they do talk about sensitive economic matters, at least we will know what they are doing about it.

But, he didn’t do anything?!

Agreed, he didn`t do anything, and so far he seems to be doing the job of looking after his constiuents.
All I was saying was that he will have to be careful in what he does and says, as there are a lot of people in Dail Éireann who would like nothing more than to see both him and Wallace suffer some serious embarrassment.
They both should make sure that their backs are covered as every trick in the book will be used against them.
Take for instance the “Microphone”, did someone surreptitiously turn it on? Or did they not check to see if any microphone was on? Oddly enough as someone else pointed out, how did it end up being recorded?
If Ming was from Limerick he would have gotten my vote, same with Wallace.

There is a good reason that FG are only ever in one term at a time, there is a culture of entitlement and superiority in the party, that the little people are to be tolerated rather than listened to. The hoods of FF had it easy when you have an opposition like hat, besides they all look after and protect a very select few, the civil war ended very quickly when it came to how they treat the people at the top, obeying the law and being accountable and equal only apply to the bottom 90% of the populace.

Mary Mitchell O’Connor is a bit of a loose cannon, her defense of Col. Gadaffi wsas quiet interesting and left a lot of her own party scratching their heads. Wallace was wrong to say what he said, she should have minded her own business and be more concerned with her party’s prog. for Govt. than worrying what he wore. Basically there are enough problems in the country without the likes of her going on a moral crusade.

Turf cutting? He’s a legislator now, time to grow up.

What are you on about? Care to explain?

In case you’re not aware, there are moves to prohibit turf cutting pursuant to the EU Habitat Directive. Ming has been a vocal and energetic campaigner on the issue.

Now, I’m can see both sides of this one, I’m from the Midlands myself, and I’ve done my time in the bog. Tbh, if they’d outlawed turf cutting when I was a nipper, I would’ve been delighted. But it’s a big deal for my family, both in terms of a potential trebling (at least) of energy bills, and cultural heritage. Seriously, (almost) as much as the money I think they’re attached to the ritual of it, the connection to their parents and grandparents. Now, maybe it’s my fancy Dublin education, but I can see the other side, how valuable a natural resource the boglands are as a habitat, and I’d trade the well-being of my lumbar spine for any amount of cultural heritage.

Point is, this is a serious issue for a lot of people in the area. Rightly or wrongly, there’s a perception that the city smart-arses are coming down to tell people what they can’t do, with no regard whatsoever for their opinions: no argument, no consultation, only prosecutions.

Ming has been agitating on it for the past couple of years, and has earned people’s respect, I think this is one of his main selling points. As far as I know he was involved in getting the Peatlands Council established. Whatever about the substance of it, at least people get the chance to be heard.

http://www.npws.ie/peatlandsturf-cutting/peatlandscouncil/

You may be aware, also, that his position on hospitals has been consistent at least. Whether he’s an opportunist or not is open to question, he is a politician after all. What’s beyond question is his work rate and ability to identify and connect with people’s concerns.

This Piggy thing and the dress code are a pathetic side-show, which, rather than damaging him, seem likely, from where I see it, to win him more support and sympathy among his constituents. And properly so, in my opinion. If, as I suspect, it is an orchestrated attack, it’s a misjudged one.

Play the ball, not the man.

How is he perfectly entitled?
He is doing a job and like anyone in any professional workplace you are expected to deal with people in a professional manner. He did not.

Ming didn’t actually call her “Miss Piggy”! And anyway it was a private conversation picked up by microphones that were supposed to be turned off. And given that she had the brazen temerity to “approach and admonish” Ming over his dress sense (which I find perfectly acceptable) I think she deserves all the abuse she gets. The phrase “Feckin’ Wagon” for some strange reason is stuck in my head.

It was a private conversation that got into the public domain. So what ? Who hasn’t said things in private they wouldn’t like made public ? She needs to grow a thicker skin. I’m sure she has said things about people herself. Get off the “mna na hEireann” bandwagon & grow up.

I’d say that’ll be Mr Martin

Edna?

If toy can’t see past the clothes then you have the problem…..

You are dead right. O’Flanagan and Wallace both look like gurriers. All politicians should dress appropriately. How in the hell will the public ever respect them? Appearances are important and always make a first impression. Irish politicians are an embarrassment when they stand next to their European counterparts. Always in their anoraks etc.
Everyone seems to agree the country is in the shi**er, well is it any wonder with knackers like these two? They may as well be in shiny tracksuits.
The reins of the country should be handed over to some other country for a while because the Irish can’t govern themselves….it’s like a circus the way things are.

What he wears is not her problem, he was elected by the voters, warts and all, he made it clear he was not wearing a suit. She has absolutely zero rights to comment on his clothes, it was none of her business, that is between him and the electorate. He is not accountable to her. If politicians like Mary Mitchell, and Séan Barrett had were more conscious of that, then we would be in a lot better situation. Will we see herself or Barrett going in to the Dáil bar during working hours and rounding on Govt. TD’s that are drinking tax subsidized pints, where Govt. TD’s voting while drunk is not considered rare. No better that Ming changes his friggin shirts than look at that or TD’s robbing expenses. There has been no shortage of FG and FF TD’s that have been crooked and a disgrace to the house, Irish freedom and our country, there are still many that are, they will never have to worry, they know that they will be protected.

so you’re showing your contempt for name calling by name calling?

Lesser known fact: we don’t all live in Dublin either.

I think that showing a willingness to fight for the preservation of our health services would is a good a place to start. For fear of sounding like his biggest fan (I really amn’t), I think our democracy would be in a much better state if each constituency had a Ming or two keeping the pressure on:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0706/roscommon.html

Seem to recall there being a fair selection of scobies in the 30th Dáil and all, even if we don’t talk about Mr. Gogarty.

I’m sure those microphones pick up a lot of interesting conversations, week in week out, I just wonder how it happened that this was the one that got leaked?