Lump It

Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar wants to give unemployed immigrants a lump sum if they agree to leave the country.

Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Byrne was delighted to pounce on the idea, from a member of the same party that last week called for ‘segregation‘ in schools, denouncing it as a policy ‘in the dishonourable tradition of the British National Party. They are the only other party supporting voluntary repatriation.’

Fás director general Rody Molloy – no doubt delighted that the TD has said something that would distract attention from the organisation’s audit woes for a while – pointed out that EU nationals in Ireland were entitled to ‘exactly the same rights’ as locals.

Rody Molloy has it right. And so, I would like to volunteer to take a lump sum to leave the country for a few years. I hear that Malta is nice this time of year, and I’m sure Mr Varadkar will be delighted to hear that I’m willing to do my bit to keep costs down – Ryanair go there three times weekly from Dublin.

But before I wave farewell to the Emerald Isle, can anyone tell me why wikipedia says Varadkar’s name in Irish is Leó Mac Giolla Cráic?

By Gerard Cunningham

Gerard Cunningham occupies his time working as a journalist, writer, sub-editor, blogger and podcaster, yet still finds himself underemployed.