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State of the Nation: Noonan to the rescue

Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…

EACH WEEKDAY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you a comprehensive guide to what’s happening in the political world.

Everyone’s talking about…

Fine Gael’s attempts to draw a line under The John McNulty Affair. The parliamentary party met for almost four hours last evening — with Michael Noonan making, by all accounts, the speech of the night. ‘It’s the economy, stupid’ was, essentially, the Finance Minister’s theme — the veteran Limerick TD implored his colleagues to refocus on on next week’s Budget and move on from recent events.

It’s understood that John Deasy and Sean Conlan, two TDs who have been heavily critical of the party in recent days, were critical of how the situation was handled. Senator Hildegarde Naughten was also said to have been critical.

PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The agenda…

  • The likes of Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy will have a chance to grill Ireland’s EU Commissioner-Designate Phil Hogan this morning. The Fine Gael heavyweight faces the European Parliament agriculture committee from 8am. 
  • The Dáil gets under way at 9.30am, with Michael Noonan taking questions on Finance for around an hour. Leaders’ Questions is at midday. 
  • In the committee rooms of Leinster House, the Health and Children panel will address the issue of ‘concussion in sport’ with medical experts (also at 9.30).
  • The Public Accounts Committee also meets this morning, at 10am.

What the others are saying…

  • The Irish Times reports that a growing number of Fine Gael and Labour senators intend to vote for John McNulty, in spite of the Donegal businessman asking them not to do so. McNulty’s name remains on the ballot paper for the Seanad by-election. 
  • A major speech by Gerry Adams, delivered in 2002, was written in part by a British diplomat, the Irish Independent reports. The revelation comes from a new book by the diplomat in question — former Blair advisor Jonathan Powell. 
  • Also in the Indo, it’s claimed then-Environment Minister Phil Hogan personally sent constituents’ CVs to Irish Water chief John Tierney. 
  • On the international front, China has issued a warning against “illegal” protests in Hong Kong, as mass pro-democracy demonstrations continue, the BBC reports.
  • And all the UK papers are mulling over David Cameron’s speech to his party conference yesterday. The Telegraph reports that nearly a million middle class Britons will be taken out of the 40p tax band if the Tories win the next election.

Stefan Rousseau Stefan Rousseau

In case you missed it…

Finally, on the Twitter machine…

Someone in Fianna Fáil’s been getting creative with the old Photoshop…

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41 Comments
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Nov 25th 2014, 7:41 AM

    What a horrible human being Paisley was.

    There are many that were a lot worse than him in the DUP, still are.

    111
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    Mute Tom Red
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    Nov 25th 2014, 7:51 AM

    The Devil is still trying to get Ian Paisley to leave…

    85
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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Nov 25th 2014, 7:36 AM

    That’s the real Paisley.

    77
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    Mute Rodger 5
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    Nov 25th 2014, 8:04 AM

    Daft as a brush

    38
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    Mute Sean Spillane
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    Nov 25th 2014, 8:30 AM

    God Bless the Holy Father.

    37
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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    Nov 25th 2014, 8:35 AM

    Praise jebus.

    24
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    Mute Frank
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    Nov 25th 2014, 9:53 AM

    I don’t see anything “Holy” about this man. only God is Holy. Pope Francis is still just an ordinary old man dressed up in a religious costume.

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Nov 25th 2014, 11:22 AM

    Yeah you guessed the right god out of thousands. Well done /s

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    Mute Peter
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    Nov 25th 2014, 8:51 AM

    This guy as he is referred to is the most popular leader on the planet, he is also a head of state and perfectly entitled to be received with honour at the parliament

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    Mute Andy Patton
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    Nov 25th 2014, 9:32 AM

    The head of a religious order has no place visiting secular European institutions.

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    Mute John Clarke
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    Nov 25th 2014, 11:30 AM

    He is the head of a religion but he is also a head of State who has diplomatic relations with many nations. He is also the religious and spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. Why shouldn’t he address them. Nobody would object if the Dalai Lama was visiting.

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    Mute Andy Patton
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    Nov 25th 2014, 4:09 PM

    Head of what state? Vatican City?

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    Mute Atticus the Accuser
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    Nov 25th 2014, 8:34 AM

    The P.R Pope I wonder what he’ll say? Probably something like the wealthy need to do more for the poor then back to the opulence of the Vatican and its billions and it’s track record of crimes against humanity.Yet some people think this guy and the crowd he represents have some moral authority I mean talk about deluded.

    http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/brin

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    Mute Andy Patton
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    Nov 25th 2014, 9:21 AM

    Well, he gave the opening speech at an Anti-Gay Conference conference last week, which slipped conveniently under the radar.

    http://thedailybanter.com/2014/11/pope-francis-spoke-anti-gay-conference-one-seems-noticed/#khWjqG5dT4k3q0ct.99

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    Mute Terry O'Dowd
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    Nov 25th 2014, 9:10 AM

    European Christian Political Movement have 3 seats in the European Parliament.
    Plenty of other MEPs are members of “Christian Democrat” parties at a national level.

    It’s hardly a secular place.

    Also, as someone else pointed out; he is a head of state.

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    Mute Michelle Broughall
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    Nov 25th 2014, 10:16 AM

    Angela Merkel is the leader of the Christian Democratic Union in Germany . God bless her :-p

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