Dáil Sketch: King Willie plays knockabout on role reversal

It was a moment of confusion for everyone. Such was its unexpectedness that of all those present – very few, it has to be said – looked briefly bewildered.

But the Minister sailed on regardless, until she too, realised her error.

Almost three years into office and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton appeared to forget she was in Government.

Dáil Question Time was the first item on the agenda and the Minister was replying to a question from Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea about the youth guarantee and the pledge of a job or further training or education for young people not more than four months unemployed.

Europe was providing €6 billion across the EU in funding and Ireland would receive €64 million of this with the Government providing matching funding, said the Minister.

Willie asked about the number of case workers for the unemployed and said it was farcical that the ratio had gone from 800 for each caseworker to 1,000:1.

The Minister’s promise to cut it to 500:1 was still unworkable, he insisted.

Then in some unexpected role reversal she said she would be very happy if the minister comes to the opening. Willie looked startled. Nobody said anything.

Joan continued that she was sure the minister will make himself available to do that . . .

She carried on for a bit and then said: “I look forward to inviting the [pause] . . . deputy to the new Limerick office.”

Three years in and she thinks Willie is minister? Willie, king of parts of Limerick city, preened.

The real Minister carried on as if nothing exceptional had happened.

Confused observers could only wonder, then come up with a possible explanation that if it’s good news for Labour, they must be in opposition.

From early on after they took office in 2011 with Fine Gael, the news has been woeful for the Labour Party.

But in the past week after almost three years virtually free of good news three positives come along together in one week: ratings improve in the opinion polls; there is a significant improvement in unemployment figures; and then a Government decision is made not to sell Bord Gáis.

Well, at least not this year.

Perfect timing
What's a Labour Minister to do but feel she must be in opposition.

The Tánaiste was looking dapper with a new hairstyle. And the general level of heckling he faced was by usual standards, very benign.

When Independent TD Joan Collins raised the issue of her High Court challenge on promissory bonds, she mentioned the blank cheque legislation would give to a future minister to pay any amount to bail out banks.

There was nothing blank about cheques, he replied. They were predated cheques for €1.3 billion to be paid every march for 10 years.

He turned on what he called the troika 25, FF and Independents who objected to exiting the bailout. He noted Independent TD Finian McGrath wasn’t one of them. You got it right Finian, he said. Down there for dancing, he said, pointing to Finian’s crutch. He’d injured himself at a charity dance.