Enda Kenny: "I didn't realise it was a protest; I thought the paralympic team was home"

Enda Kenny has the common touch.

Wallace and Daly - we're all wondering

Well we are, aren't we?

By the look in your eye I can tell you're gonna cry.
Is it over me?
If it is, save your tears
for I'm not worth it, you see.
For I'm the type of boy who is always on the take,
whatever promises I break,
I'm telling you promises I break.

You had socialism, did you escape from the prison
over me?
If it's so I'd like for you to know
that I'm not worth it, you see.
For I'm the type of boy who is always on the take, mm,
whatever promises I make,
mm, promises I break.

Oh, you keep telling me, you keep telling me I'm your man.
What do I have to do to make you understand?
For I'm the type of guy who gives girl the eye,
everybody knows.
But I love them and I leave them,
break their hearts and deceive them everywhere I go.

Don't you know that I'm the type of man who never pays his tax,
ignores the Revenue Commissioners' fax.
wherever I lay my hat, oh oh, that's not really my home, mm yeh,
that's not really my home
and I like it that way.

Pat Rabbitte attempts to force Catholic Church out of public debate

Pat Rabbitte, T.D., Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, made an extraordinary intervention in the Irish debate on abortion, by suggesting that the Catholic Church should not engage in lobbying politicians about abortion.  So while organisations like the Irish Family Planning Association, the National Women's Council, Amnesty International, Trades Unions, would be free to lobby their elected representatives, Catholics alone should be silenced.

I emailed the following to Deputy Rabbitte:


Dear Minister Rabbitte,

I was very surprised by the remarks you made in respect of abortion and the suggestion that Catholics should be uniquely prevented from lobbying their elected representatives.

Or perhaps I misunderstood you.  Are you suggesting that in future no one should lobby elected representatives at all?  The Irish Farmers Association, the GAA, IBEC, your friends in the trades union movement, the multitude of state funded bodies representing women, the disabled etc.  Are you suggesting they too should give up lobbying - or is it just Catholics?

I then sent versions of this email to Enda Kenny, Eamon Gilmore, Michael Martin, Gerry Adams, Lucinda Creighton and James Bannon - feel free to use it and pass on to other politicians:

Dear Deputy,

I was very surprised by the recent comments by Deputy Pat Rabbitte that Catholics should, uniquely, be excluded from lobbying their elected public representatives in respect of abortion.

Do you share this view?

Is it Fine Gael policy that Catholics alone should refrain from lobbying their elected representatives - or does it apply to other organisations such as the Irish Farmers Association or the Trades Union movement?

Is it government policy?

We need to follow the old divide and conquer approach by isolating those politicians who are most pro-abortion and anti-Catholic.

Kenny and abortion

Abortion will ultimately be the defining moment for Herr Kenny. We'll find out three things:
Does Kenny have any remaining residual faith or has he lost it all?
Can he lead his own party and take on the Minister for Health, James Reilly, who is clearly pro-abortion?
Has he spine, conviction and nerve to take on the Labour Party or will he put remaining in power above all else?
And an extra one- does he have the humility to talk to Michael Martin about abortion?
I'm afraid we know the answers to all those questions.

Pride and arrogance at the Eucharistic Congress

Kenny and Gilmore unveil plans for the future Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See

Careful now

Q. What do you get if you cross Enda Kenny with Amanda Knox?

A. I don't know, but whatever the hell it is, don't turn your back on it?