Finian finds Catherine is appalled but not shocked
Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley
Close observers of Catherine Connolly have noted her penchant for the term ‘shocked and appalled’. It was her favourite form of attack as a city councillor when highlighting the many shortcomings of organs of the State, particularly Galway City Council or Health Service Executive.
As in, “I am shocked and appalled at (insert problem) . . .”, or “(such and such a thing) is shocking and appalling”.
Now that she’s a TD, Catherine remains in a state of shock and appal. Just last week the Claddagh Queen used the word “appalling” on no less than eight occasions during a Dáil spat about carers.
Tuam native Finian McGrath, the Minster of State with responsibilities for Disabilities, lobbed a grenade at Catherine when he said “unlike the Deputy”, the Government “support carers in this country”. Well if he did, it was like a red rag to a bull.
“That is an appalling comment” said Catherine, no less than seven times, as she took umbrage at Finian’s fireball. When Catherine asked him to withdraw the statement made “in the heat of the moment”, and Finian said: “Absolutely not”, she described it as a “personal attack” and “unacceptable”.
Poor Pat the Cope Gallagher, the Ceann Comhairle, struggled to contain them, as accusations of Finian being “out of order” was met with claims that Catherine “makes criticism” but doesn’t “acknowledge enough the work that has been done”. Here’s a brief snippet of the tail end of the argument.
Catherine: “The Minister of State stated he listened to me for a year being negative. It is an appalling comment to make.”
Finian: “It is not appalling. Deputy Connolly can give it but she cannot take it. That is the Deputy’s problem.”
Catherine: “The Minister of State is disgraceful.”
Finian: “The Deputy can give it but she cannot take it.”
Catherine: “The Minister of State is disgraceful and he is adding to it.”
Pat the Cope who cried “let us not be acrimonious”, eventually calmed proceedings and moved on. Who knew all those years at City Hall sparring with Pádraig Conneely and Ciaran Hayes would stand Catherine in such good stead in the national parliament?
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.