From top: The Irish Mail on Sunday at the weekend, and an email the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor sent to her former special adviser Alan Cantwell
You may recall how former TV3 anchor Alan Cantwell resigned from his position as special adviser to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell-O’Connor in November – after being hired for the post in May.
Further to this.
Darragh McDonagh, in the Irish Mail on Sunday at the weekend, reported:
“Alan Cantwell’s brief stint as adviser to Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor ended with a one-line letter of resignation giving only four days’ notice, internal correspondence has revealed.”
“Emails between the former TV3 news anchor and Ms Mitchell O’Connor had become increasingly testy before deteriorating amidst public criticism of her performance as minister.”
“…On September 8, Mr Cantwell was tasked with drafting a short biography of the minister for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. She responded to a draft with the succinct reply: ‘Put in something about: 1. Jobs; 2. Enterprise; 3. Innovation.”
“…In an email in late September, on a speech for a function, he noted: ‘I have left out the most recent unemployment stats as they show unemployment increased since you took office’.”
“…On October 28, she emailed to say she noticed a list of her engagements had not been included in the official list circulated to Fine Gael Oireachtas members: ‘Guys, why are my engagements not listed on Ministerial Diary? Please reply,’ she wrote.
“Mr Cantwell replied that he would follow it up. The following Monday, he handed in a letter that read: ‘Please accept my resignation. As per terms of my contract I will finish on Friday 4th Nov’.”
Pics: Irish Mail on Sunday and Darragh McDonagh
Meanwhile…
Travelling to work today on a wonderful 44bus! pic.twitter.com/4M2prQzkW6
— Shane Ross (@Shane_RossTD) January 3, 2017