RADIO REVIEW:MAYBE IT WAS because they were sitting in Arnotts' window on Henry Street, like a bunch of over-wound mechanical elves from those Switzers Christmas windows of yore, but the bickering about the Lisbon Treaty referendum on Tuesday's Today With Pat Kenny(RTÉ Radio One, weekdays) was a lark. Even if you had heard all the arguments for and against, it had plenty of what we in journalistic circles call "colour". Adding to the sense of impending aggro was a rowdy crowd on the street, cheering and jeering.
“This is the first time I’ve done a window,” Kenny said. Voting “Yes” were MEP Mairead McGuinness, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and former President of the European Parliament Pat Cox. Voting “No” were Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, Declan Ganley of Libertas and MEP Joe Higgins.
“Please, if I’m asked to participate in a programme, could you respect that I speak,” McGuinness told a heckler before she had barely begun. And, with that, the panel of wound-up head-the-balls were off.
McGuinness pointed out that McDonald was not an elected politician, which had to hurt. McDonald in turn received applause for her comments on Lisbon I: “They dithered and they dallied and apologised for your democratic decision.” McGuinness replied, “The balance of the applause is just interesting, that’s the only comment I’ll make.”
(She appeared to be suggesting that Sinn Féin had brought their own rent-a-crowd.) Then Kenny promised to come back after the ad break and give away some “nice” designer watches.
After that, the Minister called Coir’s claim that the minimum wage would fall to €1.84 “reprehensible.” Ganley, who reportedly compared his return to the field to the 13th-century rebel William Wallace, sparred with Cox over the Government’s claim that the treaty is good for jobs.
“Go on, Braveheart,” Cox hollered, scornfully, “put me on your skewer.” Ganley denied the Braveheart charge: “You know, Pat, you typify the arrogance of the Brussels elite.” But there was a growing sense that Ganley was far less popular this time around.
McGuinness was not impressed: “There’s a lot of testosterone banging around this table and it’s an absolute disgrace.” McDonald told Martin to stop shouting at her. “I’m not shouting at you at all,” he replied. “I’m making a very assertive point.” Whatever it was, it wasn’t very ministerial.
Soon McGuinness was at it too. On Ganley saying only unelected European Commission officials will be able to initiate legislation, she said, “With respect to your point: It. Doesn’t. Make. Any. Sense. Stop arguing it!” Which set them off all over again.
After a long, hard slog on the campaign trail, Taoiseach Brian Cowen was unusually relaxed and confident on Wednesday's The Last Word(Today FM, weekdays) during a pre-recorded interview with Matt Cooper at Government buildings. Cooper asked Cowen if he thought calling the Lisbon Treaty "a defining moment in this country's destiny" was a bit over the top. Cowen replied, "There's always a bit of rhetoric when you come to the final stages of a campaign." He can say that again.
Cowen refused to say he would resign with a “No” result. “I honestly believe that the vote’s going to be won,” he said. A texter said that by not giving a definitive answer he was leaving room for a protest vote.
Then he did the old primary school teacher trick of complimenting students so they voluntarily pull up their socks: “Never underestimate the intelligence of the Irish people.” As for Cooper’s “intelligence”, he claimed to be undecided and wouldn’t reveal how he will vote: “I won’t even be telling the Missus.” We may miss the Lisbon Treaty debate when it’s gone.
During the referendum broadcast blackout on Thursday, The Ray D'Arcy Show(Today FM, weekdays) got an e-mail about the "You-Know-What Commission" broadcasting ads.
Will Hanafin, Mairead Farrell – back on air after a bad dose of swine flu – and Jenny Kelly got nervous in case D’Arcy made an accidental reference to “you-know-what”.
Hanafin suggested they do an impression of Fianna Fáil’s Martin Mansergh, so they all made lots of wild noises to drown him out.
qfottrell@irishtimes.com