Fine Gael Leader Leo Varadkar and former Senior Minister Michael Ring
“Any minister whose main focus is their own constituency is actually neglecting most of the country so ministers must have a national remit and that’s the way I would certainly expect all ministers to think.”
A statement from Leo Varadkar earlier this week apparently directed at Mayo Fine Gal TD Michael Ring, who lost his role as a Senior Minister under the new three-party government arrangement..
Meanwhile…
“I don’t know what he meant by that comment but… if any other minister did more for Ireland and for rural Ireland….You ask the councillors around the country, you can ask the elected representatives, ask the communities what I’ve done for them…
“I will look after Mayo and I make no apologies for looking after Mayo. The people of Mayo gave me 15,000 votes and elected me on the first count, the only Fine Gael TD in the country that was elected on the first count.
Leo Varadkar got 8,000 votes and it took him five counts to get elected. Between himself and Paschal Donohoe, they got 12,000 votes and I beat the two of them put together. So I make no apology for representing the people.”
Michael Ring in conversation with Midwest Radio news editor Theresa O’Malley
Taking it well.
Ring For Taoiseach? Mayo TD Takes Major Swipe At His Party Leader (Anthony Hennigan, Western People)
Jesus this government formation is showing up a lot of TD’s as emotional and bitter.
I’d have gone with egotistical self pleasuring doseheads
I really miss Oliver Callan’s take on Enda and Ringer. I’d say it was like being in the room.
Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests; which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates; but parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest, that of the whole; where, not local purposes, not local prejudices, ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole. You choose a member indeed; but when you have chosen him, he is not member of [his constituency], but he is a member of parliament
– Burke
Our TDs might do well to remember that, but our system seems skewed to reward locally-biased endeavour.
What did Edmund Burke or even his namesake Ray ever do, Ring looked after his own and
so would any other politician if they got the chance
But Edmund Burke’s point remains
A TD is elected to a National Parliament
Where decisions are made on behalf of all the Constituencies that complete that Quorum
Filling your pockets and those of your own backyard is what denies proper and healthy decisions being made
Its the most exploited yet least managed Conflict of Interest in our entire Democratic framework
All public representatives share the same single personal self interest that motivates their decisions, no matter what office they were elected to serve; to get re-elected
Leo’s statement is totally correct – the vast majority of TD’s act like county councillors. Unfortunately, as the adage goes ‘All politics is local’ and the TD is accredited with getting Mary from down the road her welfare payment when Mary either qualifies or doesn’t all by herself. A list type system of voting would be far more preferable to the nepotistic cute hoorism that currently prevails.
…wasn’t it Varadkar who made him a Minister in the first place…
Actually Michael is highly regarded,self made and considered extremely hard working,well his results kinda speak for themselves oh and he loathes FF,he took Padraig Flynn’s old seat from his daughter Bev:)
Lord Of The Ring even
Even Leo himself. https://irishelectionliterature.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/leoduffy07b.jpg
Some amount of knives out in the 3 government parties.
Blood will be spilled soon enough. SF must be delighted how things are going.
I think the problem here is that Micheal Ring was never really Ministerial stuff
and when he struck lucky he made sure Mayo made pigs of themselves at at dessert trolley
Populists top the polls
not people that have to make decisions like Hospital Expansions or relocation, School here or over there in that parish, By Pass this town or reroute that carriageway entirely. Designation for Urban Renewal South Tipp or South East, Lotto Funds to this Golf Club or to that Sea Scouts troupe, Tourism marketing for this trail or that bog hole that looks like Mary crying, IDA special attention for TwoMileBorris or Newtownmountkennedy
Politically Ring is a passenger, and a handy pawn
He’s a nice man and a harmless representative
He works hard at Constituency Level
but he was never Minister for Finance stuff
His entire Fine Gael Career is actually a perfect Metaphor for Mayo
Best little Country in the World, in Mayo
Best Team in the World, in Mayo
Micheal Ring is the best colour commentator in the World, for Mayo
…and he loathes FF:)
Michael is the quintessential local FG Auctioneer,the backbone of the party, lose him in Mayo at your peril.
And it’s a campaign issue
‘Not Fianna Fáil’
That is no longer available to him
Shame to see some squabbling at a time when we need unity. Could be not reach out and offer a Ring Peace?
:)
I’ve always wondered what happened to Mikeyfx
Have you locked him in your basement?
he’ll never see Sam in the county
Yes, the other eh “blueshirts” will see to that.
He’s a gombeen. Stick a fork in his ass, turn him over he’s done.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/planning-board-rules-against-michael-ring-backed-project-38056876.html
Did he take it well? He did in his ring!