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ALAN KELLY HAS been warned by gardaí about threats from dissident republicans.
Appearing on RTÉ’s Saturday Night with Miriam, the Environment Minister spoke about how he, his family and his staff have received death threats since the establishment of Irish Water.
“There has been a lot of horrible stuff that has gone on and it’s difficult to talk about sometimes,” he said with emotion in his voice.
The Tipperary TD revealed that a local garda Superintendent told him recently that he was “under threat from dissident republicans”.
It’s not good that you have to go home and talk to your family about that.
“It’s one thing to have threats against yourself or nasty things said about yourself. It’s another thing for stuff to be sent to your family, your wife, your parents and, also, my staff,” he told the audience, adding that he expected to be challenged, given out to and held to account.
“My staff are workers. I come from the Labour Party. We represent workers. I’m the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
We represent people who work. These people just work for me and there’s people ringing them up saying they are going to be killed.
Kelly noted that he believes the group of people making the threats are “not really interested in water charges”.
“There is a broader issue here,” he said. “There is a small group of people in this country who just want anarchy.”
The Labour Minister dismissed criticism over the establishment of Irish Water and the introduction of water charges.
He told O’Callaghan that he would not use the word “shameful” as she had done to describe the new charge.
“I wouldn’t do anything if I didn’t think it was right,” he said, although conceding that there had been mistakes as the utility was set up.
“Yes, there were lots of mistakes made. I’m often told I got one of the largest hospital passes in political history,” he said, attempting a joke. “And I agree, by the way.”
But we did change everything around. Lots of mistakes were made around Irish Water but setting up Irish Water was not a mistake.
Water infrastructure wasn’t seen as “sexy enough” previously to attract the funding required, he explained.
“There is never a wrong time to do the right thing. I’m not doing this to be popular, obviously, I’m doing because it’s the right thing. It’s creating an infrastructure to ensure jobs.”
Kelly also believes that more people have “come around” to the idea of water bills, citing positive changes brought about by the current government before being interrupted by O’Callaghan accusing him of playing a “party political broadcast”.
The latest controversy surrounding Irish Water is the agency’s failure to publish how many customers have paid their bills so far.
Kelly claimed he did not have a figure tonight, adding that it will be revealed after a board meeting next week.
“We might be surprised with the volume of people who have paid their bills,” he hinted.
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Great Im off the hook. More chocolate please.
It’s “Man Fuel” isn’t it? That’s what the TV ad says anyway…………..
pass the yorkies round,hands off ladies
More BS research chocolate sales must be down.
There is no large Swedish evil chocolate corporation coming to mind..
I love chocolate!
Hmmm , I’m unreasonably skeptical about “research” like this , i seem to be conditioned to think that research like this is almost always to try influence consumption as an alternative to advertising , those Dime Bars (daim in Sweden and Ikea;) are massive and were bought by Kraft who now own Cadburys so my totally groundless unfounded conspiracy is that marketing olks in Cadbury will be quoting the “Swedish research” for years to come saying that even milk chocolate is good for you , god I’m getting so cynical these days ;(
Eh I don’t think Kraft bought Ikea…
I know that reads wrong , Dime bars are called Daim bars in Sweden and sold as daim bars in Ikea , Dime Bars were bought by Kraft who also own Cadbury , It was lighthearted reply to an earlier comment that had said they weren’t aware of major confectioner in Sweden , so I made up a groundless conspiracy that linked Swedish chocolate with major chock company … ;) I wasn’t suggesting Ikea were bought by Kraft…
Off to get some chocolate stout. 5 for a tenner in a well known supermarket chain. Woohoo.
So eat a lot of chocolate, lower your chance of stroke but increase your risk of diabetes! Just eat it in moderation…
The Guardian thought it was worthwhile mentioning the following (probably the most important fact in the entire study ) “Studies seem to demonstrate a benefit on cardiovascular health with chocolate consumption but, as in this study, other factors such as eating more fruits and veg, smoking less, and a modest intake of alcohol also assist in maintaining cardiovascular health. A little of what you fancy does you good, but in terms of chocolate, choose one with at least 40-50% cocoa solid content if you want to boost your flavonoid intake.”
Sexism at its very best!!!!!
In what way? I don’t see how an inanimate object such as a Cocoa Bean could be sexist!
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