Comments on: Celeb-spotting on Aer Lingus/Aer Arann

By: James Wimberley

James Wimberley — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:03:58 +0000

p.o-neill is out of date. The job title of officials who speak for countries not only in the EU but in the plethora of IGOs is usually “permanent representative”, but their foreign service rank is amabassador.
The OSCE takes this further, and has arrogated to itself the power to call its own representatives in trouble spots “ambassadors”. Even the EU doesn’t do this -yet. Basically a retirement perk.

By: P O'Neill

P O'Neill — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:44:43 +0000

Be ready for an e-mail from Ireland’s leading Eurosceptic, whose name currently escapes me, complaining that you’re referred to Bruton as an Ambassador, thereby giving sovereign status to the European Union. I’ve heart of the Meath Chronicle being carefully scrutinized for such references with corresponding letters to the editor the next week.

By: Doug

Doug — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:42:46 +0000

“political leaders ~~who lack deep contextual knowledge~~ tend to vastly over-estimate their ability to direct the course of history!”

Edited for brevity.

And while I’m at it: 1 “Are there any other countries in Europe where the main parties are still so difficult for foreigners to sum up in terms of modern politics?”

should be “Are there any other countries in Europe where the main parties are not difficult for foreigners to sum up in terms of modern politics?”

By: James Wimberley

James Wimberley — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 16:19:29 +0000

Did you other non-Irish know the plural of taoiseach is taoisigh?

By: Laleh

Laleh — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:18:59 +0000

Who’s Olivier Martinez?

By: c.l. ball

c.l. ball — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:37:12 +0000

Politicians are not celebrities unless their celebrity status preceded their political status. Or put differently, celebrities fly first class (unless their traveling with their family).

Now, Martinez is a celebrity.

By: mollymooly

mollymooly — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:46:48 +0000

Of course half the people in RTÉ are related to yer man in the Dáil.

By: nick s

nick s — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:58:31 +0000

Ah, the wonders of small countries, where if you’re not related to yer man in the Dáil (or on RTÉ) you’ve probably just arrived on the boat.

Are there any other countries in Europe where the main parties are still so difficult for foreigners to sum up in terms of modern politics?