SO the RTÉ news begins with a telephoned bomb threat to the Environment Minister’s office ‘following on’ from a protest whereby the Tánaiste was stuck in her car, immediately creating the impression that the two are linked and part of a revolutionary attempt to overthrow the Irish Government over the imposition of water charges.
The Justice Minister weighs in with the unintentionally comical comment that it was ‘not appropriate to keep the Tánaiste in her car,’ suggesting by default that there might be a time when it is appropriate to do so.
Another Minister states that it is ‘very worrying’ that a water balloon was thrown at the Tánaiste.
Yes, a water balloon, which sounds to me as if Joan Burton was in as much danger as she might be at a boisterous kid’s party.
So let us get this straight. This Government, this Fine Gael/Labour coalition is imposing water charges in a spectacularly ham fisted way. There is all sorts of public anger, from Irish Water already offering executive bonuses, to complete confusion as to how much the charges will be. Which is before we even get to the case as to whether charging for water is fair in the first place.
The attempts by some in the Government to dress this up as an environmental move have been so cynical as to not even be part of the debate.
This is about taxation and nothing else.
So for the Government to be reacting as if the democracy of the state is in danger because people have acted upon their legitimate grievances can only be laughed at.
I’m fairly sure the bomb threat was pretty unpleasant for whoever took the call.
Was it in anyway a credible threat though?
And I’m sure it was pretty unpleasant for Joan Burton to be stuck in her car with a ring of gardaí protecting her.
But it was pretty unpleasant too for a lot of people when Joan Burton cut child benefit and rent allowance in order to appease the bondholders.
It was pretty unpleasant when one of her first statements in office, with a rising tide in unemployment, was to talk of the importance of cutting down on welfare cheats.
Two hours stuck in a car? She’ll get over it.
