Ring In The Hat

at

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)

Rollingnews

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21 thoughts on “Ring In The Hat

  1. Harry Robertson

    Jesus this government formation is showing up a lot of TD’s as emotional and bitter.

  2. Paulus

    I really miss Oliver Callan’s take on Enda and Ringer. I’d say it was like being in the room.

  3. Specific Gravity

    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.

    1. Truth in the News

      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

      1. Vanessanelle

        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

  4. Juniperberry

    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.

      1. Johnny

        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:)

  5. topsy

    Some amount of knives out in the 3 government parties.
    Blood will be spilled soon enough. SF must be delighted how things are going.

  6. Vanessanelle

    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

    1. Johnny

      …and he loathes FF:)
      Michael is the quintessential local FG Auctioneer,the backbone of the party, lose him in Mayo at your peril.

  7. Matt Pilates

    Shame to see some squabbling at a time when we need unity. Could be not reach out and offer a Ring Peace?

    1. italia'90 Please don't mention Sweden

      :)
      I’ve always wondered what happened to Mikeyfx
      Have you locked him in your basement?

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