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IT WAS A YEAR of big issues with debates on abortion, Seanad reform and, of course, our dire economic situation, topping the agenda.
Our fiery public representatives were there, ready to fight the big fights and in some cases, it got a bit ugly. Here are just some of the times it was caught on camera.
Senators got fairly riled up ahead of the referendum to abolish the Seanad. This anger reached a peak in July when David Norris said Regina Doherty, who was Deputy Director of Elections during the campaign, was “talking through her f***y”. He later apologised.
(Video: Hugh O’Connell/YouTube)
In July, Fine Gael TD Tom Barry pulled his colleague Áine Collins onto his lap in the Dáil during a break in the debate of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, sparking public outrage and stirring up questions again about whether TDs should be allowed to drink in the Dáil bar during debates.
(Video: SineadOCaroollTJ/YouTube)
Speaking of the Dáil bar, there was an absolute uproar in the chamber in February when Gerry Adams suggested that the bar be closed or that TDs should be breathalysed on their way back in the door.
(Video: sinnfeinireland/YouTube)
At a Dublin pub during the summer, Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte was heckled by a group of anti-austerity protesters shouting “Run Rabbitte, run”. The response to this particular method of protest was mixed.
(Video: Dublin SAYSNO/YouTube)
In October, the Dáil fell silent for two minutes as TDs debated a motion on the issue of cochlear implants for children who are deaf. Cork North Central TD Jonathan O’Brian, who called for the gesture, said it was “to get some understanding of what those children have to endure”.
(Hugh O’Connell/YouTube)
Former Fine Gael TD Peter Mathews had a right go at Bank of Ireland executives when they appeared before the Public Accounts Committee in September. In a rare display of solidarity, he agreed several times with previous comments made by Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins.
(Video: Hugh O’Connell/YouTube)
In May, Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy told the European Parliament that he would not be registering for the property tax, which he called ‘the bailout tax’. He ripped up his return, telling the parliament to “let the rich pay their taxes, working people have paid enough”.
(Video: TheJournal.ie/YouTube)
TD Clare Daly launched a blistering attack on the government for turning us into a ‘nation of pimps’ during the Obama family’s visit in June. She accused the US President of exploiting his Irish ancestry and called him a ‘war criminal’. Basically, she pulled no punches.
(Video: PlanetEarthAwakens01/YouTube)
In March, Independent Roscommon TD Luke Ming Flanagan brought something new to the debate on the quashing of penalty points for politicians, telling the Dáil it happened to him and he wants those points back.
(Video: TheJournal.ie/YouTube)
In the heat of the moment during a Dáil debate, Fine Gael TD Jim Daly suggested he didn’t believe in Santa. After the government confirmed the existence of Santa and said they hoped Daly would not end up on his naughty list, the TD withdrew his remarks and apologised “unreservedly” to Mr Claus.
(Video: TheJournal.ie/YouTube)
The recent controversy about high-level staff at the Central Remedial Clinic receiving top-ups to their salaries from a charity fund caused quite a fuss in Leinster House. When the board appeared before a committee, TDs gave them hell, with Shane Ross accusing them of ‘giving two fingers to the HSE’.
(Video: Hugh O’Connell/TheJournal.ie)
We officially exited our bailout this year – rejoice. To mark the occasion, Taoiseach Enda Kenny gave an address to the nation, to tell us what kind of a state the country is in. He promised the government will work “might and main” to fix the economy:
(Video: MerrionStreetNews/YouTube)
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Since when are big bag of cans with the lads classed as groceries?
@I Crow: They’re more than groceries , they’re staples!!!
I’m basically 95% Bulmers and 5% Iceberger these days.
That’s hilarious. Heatwave- buy extra groceries, clothes, furniture, toys…. Poor weather conditions- buy extra groceries, clothes, toys. Buy buy buy!
Where do kantar get these figures ? How accurate are they. Dunnes, lild and Aldi are private companies and don’t give out this information.
@Martin Sinnott: from the named research firm in the article. You are very suspicious. Hope you haven’t had a bad experience in the past making you not trust people.
@Martin Sinnott: private companies supply data all the time for many reasons , they want to know how they are performing in market share ? They want to compare how their competitors are performing , research is conducted all the time for all kinds of data , mobile companies want to know their market share , car companies the list is endless , being private companies doesn’t mean they won’t share performance information , most industries have some credible source , in this case kantar are the reputable research company and as they monitor the data ongoing basis you can sure it is pretty accurate actually
@Dave Hammond: Lidl/Aldi are on top now with 23.1% and they are the best.
@Martin Sinnott: They give a sample audience scanners and pay them to record their weekly shopping (you can apply for those positions), that data is used for the trends and market share projections.
Only part of the data is made public, the specifics are sold back to the supermarkets.
The price of a bottle of sunscreen is just amazing €10 to €15 on average!
Previously for at home in Ireland one bottle of factor 15 would still have a good bit left in it for at least 2 or 3 years…
@Dotty Dunleary: try Aldi’s sunscreen
@Dotty Dunleary: I wonder what street it is you’re buying your sunscreen on, because it’s not the same street as I’m buying my sunscreen on. Down to Lildi with ya.
@Dotty Dunleary: I paid €30 for a bottle in the Dominican Republic last year, €10-15 is cheap in comparison!
@DaisyMay: If I wanted to end up like a lobster attracting flies I will! :-D
@Sam Harms: Big windows in that shop for tourists I’d say!
I thought the country was broke?
@The Bull McCabe: your about 7 years behind , nearly a full employment now.
SuperValu dying a slow death. No value= lower sales. They been slipping constantly on this market research but done nothing about it?
@Artur Gurta: not what i read recently. Ill try and find the article for you
How can four million people spend twenty seven pounds on groceries
@Peter Murphy: bags of ice probably account for 12 million
They normally wait outside the doors of these supermarkets to ask buyers for their receipts for to do the market research.
How can Supervalue sales only go up 0.1% and all others roughly 2.5 %?
@Kevin Cashin: because they’re expensive and they’re products have gone downhill
@Me_a_monkey: *their
No thanks to the propaganda spread by some media outlets.
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