The Party Leader's Debate #rte11 #ge11 #vinb

I must confess to switching over to the Party Leader's debate on TV3 during half-time in the Ireland vs Wales match on Sky. The first half in the match was poor. Sky don't have John Giles and Eamon Dunphy (the absolute best in football punditry) on at half-time - so switching was easy!

Mock-up from the fantastic
Big Mental Disease Blog.

For the few minutes that I watched it - Michéal Martin won by a mile - much more articulate and very effective in challenging the bull-shit from Eamon Gilmore. Well done Michéal. Vincent Browne was wasted in the role of moderator - I would have enjoyed the half-time beak much more if he had got stuck-in to both leaders.

Leader's debates do not influence my vote - I don't actually care who "wins" according to the tabloids. My mind is made up despite the best efforts of parties and TV stations to influence me. All I want is a "safe-pair-of-hands" to lead the country. Alan Kelly, Packie Bonner, and Shay Given inspire more confidence than a debate on TV3.

Big Jack for Taoiseach.
(Photo from BBC News)

Anyway - thanks to Darron Gibson, Damien Duff, and Keith Fahey the evening was not quite wasted as Ireland beat a very poor Wales team by 3-0. Who knows - maybe the miracle of Ireland's qualification (thanks to Gary Mackay of Scotland) for Euro '88 may be repeated and kick-start the economy as Big Jack and the Lads were credited with kick-starting the Irish economy in 1988 with success on the football field. 

This got me thinking - a bit like Christy Moore's "Joxer Goes to Stuttgart" song. Now here's an Irish dream team for Government: 

• Taoiseach - Jack Charlton
• Minister for Finance - John Delaney (of FAI)
• Minister for Foreign Affairs - Eamon Dunphy
• Minister for Tactics - John Giles
• Minister for Labour (and hard work) - Roy Keane
• Minister for Goals - Robbie Keane (Junior Minister - Frank Stapleton), 
• Minister for Equality - Andy Gray (sacked after 5 mins and replaced by Mother Theresa)
• Minister for Education - John Giles (again)
• Minister for Health - Mick Byrne
• Minister for Sound Bytes - Eamon Dunphy
• Minister for Enthusiasm - Des Cahill

And finally: Minister for Inspiration - Ireland's Assistant Manager Marco Tardelli. Just watch this from Italia '90 and be inspired: