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TIPPERARY TD MATTIE McGrath was asked to remove his Daffodil Day pin when entering the Dáil chamber recently.
The TD was returning from the launch of Daffodil Day in Clonmel and the flower was pinned to his suit collar.
Daffodil Day – which raises money for cancer research every year – marks its 30th anniversary today.
“I went up the stairs to the main entrance to the Dáil chamber and I was stopped on the landing by an usher who said: ‘sorry Deputy, no emblems allowed in here’. I said, ‘it’s only a daffodil’.”
“I was shocked and thought it was silly because lots of other TDs wear pins and badges that are politically motivated, such as the Repeal the Eighth badges and the ’support Tesco’ badges people wore during the Tesco strike.”
However, McGrath said he believes the usher was just doing their job, but had criticism for the Dáil rules, which he said are inconsistent.
Emblems forbidden
As the current rules stand, the wearing of emblems is not permitted.
“It [the daffodil badge] is seen as an emblem, but we need to have some kind of proper policy, I always adhere to the dress code, but this is just silly.”
The dress code for politicians has been a cause of debate this week.
Members of the Dáil committee on procedure received two reports on dress codes and emblems and logos permitted in other parliaments ahead of a meeting on Wednesday.
It’s understood the meeting stems from a number of complaints being made to Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghail regarding the standard of dress maintained by Oireachtas members.
Having lost close relatives to cancer, McGrath paid tribute to the support for Daffodil Day today, describing it as “phenomenal”.
“The Daffodil pin causes no offense to anyone, it is not a proclamation of any political statement, it is just a good cause. ”
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What a typical left wing rubbish half solution to the problem. Indecision and messy compromise that serves no purpose ultimately. And they want to run the country.
They are running the country, not very effectively granted, but they are in a coalition government so technically they are running the country.
Why go into coalition with them then Vincent????
What would be your full & decisive decision Vincent?
@chairman- mercifully, no. They’re really not.
@tony- spoilt for choice FG weren’t.
@shayno- if Keaveney had any honour he would have joined Shortall in exile and fought his cause from there. But no. The left prefer in-fighting.
@ Vincent, totally agree, we have a very ineffective Government
@Vincent, you gave me a politician’s answer, as in no answer to the question. Just evasion.
It’s a long time since the Labour Party adopted left wing policy’s Vincent. There’s no such thing as left wing politics in Ireland.
I’ll be voting for the ULA next time out.
Yes, Petr. Because the ULA know how to organise themselves.
Steady on their Colm. David & Goliath more like Brian McFadden & Westlife.
Fair play Colm. Representing the people from tuam. Stood by his election promises. Why so easy to be cynical. This county not used a politician with a conscious. Keep up the good work Colm.
@Anne. But he hasn’t Anne! He has kept his salary, seat and pension rights!! He has lost the whip and that’s it! A bs move, a cowardly stance and and dishonest political shimmy! His actions are not that of true Labour member, well, ok, maybe it is….
I know this person from when he was in the students union in letterkenny, he had no conscience then and that hasn’t changed
could’nt be ar**ed commenting!
and yet you have haha
Vincent should run the country. He’s vewy vewy smart!
Well spotted Petr
labour are finished and have lost any scraps of credibility outside their ego massagers.
Regardless of who is holding chair or whips they are finished.
Maybe the Journal will put up a poll asing people if they agree with me !
Out with the old & in with the new..
(Labour’s only survival)
the labour hasbeans will soon be no bean. they forgett that they are only there part time
The only problem with that is everyone from 80/100k down to minimum wage and unemployed would be hammered even worse with no restraints at all on Enda’s attack dogs…
Keep the black tie community in luxury at all costs.
Future generations are going to look back on this immoral period of our history, they are not going to be saying, King Kenny the knight in shining armour! They will be questioning how and why we let it happen.
Will you stand up and say that you are being paid too much Colm?
Labour guilty of left wing policies? That would be like accusing Labour of pursuing egalitarian, socially fair and socially progressive policies. In fairness Labour is a right of centre party, with just a few individual exceptions, who are quickly learning they are unwanted.
As a batter of balance, Labour is not quite as right wing as Fine Gael. FGs days of social justice are well and truly gone and “moderates” such as Vincent Dolan are trying to keep up with the accelerating move to the right.
have your say