Politician of the Year: Is there one?
It was a very disjointed time on the political front. For the best part of the first six months, sitting TDs and their parties were consumed by election preparations, then the campaign and then the inordinately long process of putting together a government.
Brexit, followed by the American presidential election, distracted from the national picture.
The lengthy 1916 commemoration ceremonies provided further diversion. The proceedings in Dáil Éireann felt more like a sideshow at times.
Nobody stands out.
Minister of the Year:
Simon Coveney did very well when he refused to water down provisions in his Housing Bill at Fianna Fáil's behest. The party is supporting the Fine Gael minority Government, but at a price.
It involves claiming responsibility for or citing their significant influence on popular Government decisions, while returning to Opposition attack mode when unpopular measures are at issue.
His refusal to budge was welcomed by colleagues who felt Fianna Fáil was taking advantage of them.
However, Paschal Donohoe is Minister of the Year. He was odds on to lose his Dáil seat – the fact that he retained it is a measure of his determination, political ability and tireless work ethic.
While, like the rest of his Cabinet colleagues, he hasn’t set the world on fire, he has been a surefooted media performer and always sounds in command of his brief in the Department of Public Reform.
He is also likeable, with his best boy in class persona, while his old-fashioned courtesy and unmistakeable lisp give him a high recognition factor with the public. He is also a Star Wars nerd and a big fan of Beyoncé. He's a dark horse.
Notice Box of the Year:
Never any shortage of contenders in this category, given the nature of the work. But the outright winner is Noel Rock of Fine Gael.
The first-time TD, who represents Dublin North-West, is rapidly cementing his reputation as Mr Rent-a-Quote of the 32nd Dáil: no microphone ever knowingly refused.
He recently announced he wouldn’t be taking the latest pay rise for TDs and embarked on a gruelling round of interviews to explain why.
His gesture went down like a lead balloon with some of his colleagues. But no matter, it meant Noel could then do interviews about how mean they were to him.
His outstanding performance was the silly season. He was a constant on the airwaves, pronouncing on prescription charges, the evils of ticket touting, the minimum wage, Pat Hickey, Shane Ross, Olympic tickets and his love for Enda.
And when he wasn’t doing that, he was holding forth at length about the time he spent in Washington interning for Hilary Clinton. He got the year out of that.
Biggest Notions Award:
Senators, who couldn’t possibly entertain the idea of gathering in a venue beneath their status when they have to leave their lovely chamber so the builders can move in.
Meet in town halls or university campuses around the country, for example? Stick a portacabin village on Leinster Lawn for the duration? Sit in the Dáil chamber on those days/mornings the Lower House isn’t in session?
Certainly not.
When they returned after the election on June 29th, House Leader Jerry Buttimer declared “I am conscious we have the eyes of the nation on us.”
Ronán Mullen looked around and mused: “It is the Seanad of the talents in many ways.”
When Enda Kenny deigned to pay them a visit (after doing his best to abolish them) they gave him a standing ovation.
“We must go beyond the gates to reach out to the public,” quivered Buttimer.
All the way next door to the National Museum, where they’re not even wanted.
Carpetbaggers of the Year:
The authorities in Leinster House and self-regarding politicians, who’ve finally got their paws on the National Museum. The Seanad will be moving in. Of course, it’s only temporary.
Work has already begun on the project. A lift is being installed to facilitate movement from Leinster House into the museum.
A hidden doorway – long blocked up – in the room which used to be the Seanad Leader’s office, is being opened up again. The project will cost a lot of money.
It’s only temporary, mind. Good luck with getting it back, lads.
Best Maiden Speech:
Frontrunner for a long time was Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin.
The TD for Dublin-Rathdown drew plaudits for her impassioned call to the main parties to get their act together after the Dáil failed to elect a taoiseach for the third time since the general election.
But Independent Alliance TD for Longford-Westmeath, Kevin “Boxer” Moran, wins for surprising everyone by delivering his maiden speech to a near deserted chamber as it neared midnight on day 56 of the new Dáil.
In his two-minute contribution, Boxer took the opportunity to thank everyone who had helped him get elected and wished Enda Kenny “every success in government”.
Best Minister of State:
The gong is jointly awarded to independent Sean Canney for his work on flood defences and Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy, for doggedly holding her ground against some of her own colleagues, along with extremely pushy retail and drink industry lobbyists who want elements of the alcohol Bill watered down.
Services to the English Language:
Minister of State Damien English.
Biggest Losers:
Labour, by a country mile.
Biggest Winners:
Fianna Fáil, back from the dead after the party was almost wiped out by angry voters in the previous election.
Best Boy/Girl in Class:
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty for discovering the hole in Michael Noonan’s “Fiscal Space”.
And full marks must go to Róisín Shorthall of the Social Democrats for spotting the numerical flaw in Simon Coveney’s draft Bill on imposing rent limits.
Best Practical Joke:
The ushers who convinced some journalists and TDs that Bertie Ahern’s portrait would have to be removed from the gallery of former taoisigh because he was signalling a return to politics. And maybe Bertie himself, for floating the idea.
Best Entrance:
The Healy-Raes and their fan club, returning to Leinster House with a post-election bang.
They held up traffic on busy Kildare Street with an impromptu hooley – tin whistles and accordions and step-dancing on the bonnet of a battered Jeep and emotional speeches from brothers Michael and Danny.
And then, having played the stage-Irish card to its limits, they headed in for work and a profitable year of attacking the “Dublin” meeja for apparently not taking them seriously enough.
Survivor of the Year:
Taoiseach Enda Kenny. He seemed the only person not concerned over his future as leader of Fine Gael.
As backbenchers sniped and the media obsessed over the Leo Varadkar versus Simon Coveney succession battle, Enda just motored on.
The runner-up is veteran Kerry Senator Paul Coghlan, who looked dead and buried during the Seanad election count, only to make a Lazarus-like recovery when the last few transfers came in.
Facepalm Award:
Enda. Who else? For informing a horrified nation in September that he had his “mojo” back and then compounding it all by getting caught dad-dancing and playing air-guitar at a Bruce Springsteen concert.
Newcomer of the Year:
This is crowded field, which can only be a good thing. Galway Independent Catherine Connolly is always thought provoking and sensible, Fianna Fáil's Eugene Murphy is proving very effective as a stand-in chairman while Mick Barry and Gino Kenny of AAA-PBP have made very promising starts.
But Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly shades it – she’s a very good speaker with a sense of humour to boot.
Backbencher of the Year:
Fine Gael's Jim Daly hasn't been afraid to criticise his leader, although the Cork TD eased back on Enda in recent months. He's diligent and is pushing on with his attempts to establish an education ombudsman.
Best Use of Props:
The AAA-PBP group of TDs may be small in number, but they know how to make themselves heard. They got good mileage out of wearing “Repeal the Eighth” sweatshirts into Leaders’ Questions.
Richard Boyd-Barrett and Bríd Smith repeated the stunt yesterday, using “Home Sweet Home” T-shirts in the chamber to support a group of homeless people who have moved into a vacant office block in Dublin.
But the most memorable use of a prop was by Joan Burton and then TD Ann Phelan, who took to a canoe to inspect flood waters in Kilkenny during the general election. Needless to say, it capsized.
Most Unexpected Comment:
Gerry Adams, who informed the Ceann Comhairle "my teddy bears are virgins".
