Sometimes it’s good to say no

When the Irish people voted no to the Lisbon treaty earlier this year, we were given a good ticking off by all the yes advocates both at home and abroad. We were looked upon as fools and paranoid freaks. People were tearing their hair out and looking to heaven as if the sky was about to fall on Ireland. We were told ‘this is it, there is no better deal’. We were told that we would be left behind. Nothing could be done.

Less than a year later there is, it seems, a better deal on the table, I’m delighted I said no. There is always a better deal. 

And what today’s result shows more than anything is that those people, in Ireland particularly (and particularly certain parts of Dublin where the most ‘educated’ people alledgedly come from), who feel that we shouldn’t be bothered to question, debate and vote on our future in Europe because we can’t influence anything are and were wrong. The rejection of this treaty will now result in all E.U. countries keeping a commissioner. And even if this is the only ‘concession’ granted, at least the Irish have made the E.U. think again. The rest of Europe’s citizens, if not the politicians, will wonder why they weren’t given the same opportunity.

Disaster for Irish construction industry

Workers in Ireland’s building trade will wake up on Monday morning with yet another dilemma to deal with.

Things have not been going well of late for the construction industry. What with the economic slowdown and the consequential decline in building, many builders have lost their jobs in recent months.

Those still in employment are understanably nervous about the future (as is everyone) but at least they had their 10a.m. breakfast roll to look forward to. Not any more. Now that Irish pork is off limits because of the shit the pigs were eating our builders have to stop eating shit too. It doesn’t rain but it pours. What will, as David McWilliams calls him, Breakfast roll man do? Salad roll man just doesn’t seem to fit.

I will miss my ham sandwiches over the coming weeks but on the bright side, the health of the nation will surely improve due to us pork loving Irish taking the swine out of dine (couldn’t resist) . I imagine it will reduce our salt intake quite drastically. Have no fear however; all that improvement is sure to be negated by yule tide boozing.

Slainte