Change of plans...

Monday, 08 Feb 2010

So, news events have overtaken us and we've decided to shelve our prior plans. The social welfare topic deserves a full show and full attention, so we've set it aside for this week.

As many of you will be aware already, George Lee has resigned from Fine Gael and the Dáil. We'll be covering the causes and potential impact of his decision tonight. On our panel will be ex-Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates, political editor of the Sunday Business Post, Pat Leahy, and former Fianna Fáil TD, Jim Glennon.

Also in studio we'll have Noel Whelan, a political analyst and former member of Fianna Fáil; Elaine Byrne, columnist with The Irish Times and lecturer in the politics department of Trinity College, and David Farrell, a political scientist.

Pat Kenny will also be holding two one-on-one interviews; one with Fine Gael frontbencher, Leo Varadkar, and the other with George Lee himself.

Remember, we're on earlier than usual tonight, 9.30, RTÉ One.

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Comments:

So.... will George be back on our screens ie. re-employed by RTE sooner than we had hoped for...?

Posted by peter donegan on February 08, 2010 at 08:04 PM GMT #

So the resignation of a coward is more important than a discussion on the future of social welfare in Ireland, the theft of €2-3 billion in annual welfare fraud etc? Sincerely hope this won't be another of RTE's love-ins for George Lee! :-)

Posted by Stephen Kearon on February 08, 2010 at 08:17 PM GMT #

Pat, you should nail George on his thoughts as to the next leader of the FG party :) George alluded to murmurings and dissent earlier, but didn't elaborate. I think FG without Enda is the only way forward, IMHO.

Posted by Ryan on February 08, 2010 at 09:27 PM GMT #

What does george expect? he is a TD nine months. what makes him so special to other tds who spend years gaining experience before going into the front bench. george is an amature and an amature he will remain with this attitude. A TD is to rep his/her constituents george lee has know shown he never cared about the people of ireland and more importantly dublin south.

Posted by Mark on February 08, 2010 at 09:41 PM GMT #

Look george how can you say that the economy needs to be fixed, unemployment is a joke and practically the country is in a very bad way and that true but you were elected to fix it, why didnt you stay on as an independant and do what you are complaining about. i personnally lost all respect for you as has many of the people in this coountry.

Posted by Mark on February 08, 2010 at 09:49 PM GMT #

I have to say from the outset that I never really was impressed with George Lee. I attended a Lecture at NUI Galway a number of years ago when George equated the Celtic Tiger to a 'three legged Koala bear', this at the height of the economic boom. To my surprise some 5 years later George made a TV programme entitled 'how we blew the boom'. I am not surprised George was unable to formulate economic policy when he clearly could not decipher what occurred to the economy during the period 1992 to 2007.

Posted by Cathal on February 08, 2010 at 09:55 PM GMT #

Hey there, Fair play to George, he did a grreat job he should start his own party coz what ireland needs is one is a minister for common sence and two a strong leader who knows his facts. Take it or leave it. If you dont IMF will show you how to do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Juddy on February 08, 2010 at 10:07 PM GMT #

In regard to Mr G.LEE I feel that this person was a Trojan Horse inserted into Fine Gael, precisely to achieve the present result. It looks to me like something is definitely rotten in the State of Denmark. This man has timed his exit to coincide with 1) a rise in FF support in opinion polls 2) mutterings against the current Leader of Fine Gael 3) the time-frame allows this man to return to RTE without any apparent penalty and there is a GE due within the next 2 years 4) this is the exact reason why this person infiltrated in FG.

Posted by Danny on February 08, 2010 at 10:11 PM GMT #

how to hell is G Lee.. rtc giveing him great coverage today one of your own. what would we expect. his ego is so big tell him get a life

Posted by john sligo on February 08, 2010 at 10:12 PM GMT #

Typical Fine Gael running celebrity candidates eg Graham Geraghty and Sean Kelly. George Lee ran for election to make an impact in the economic recovery.

Posted by deirdre on February 08, 2010 at 10:18 PM GMT #

get rid of the party whip - tds should be following their conscience , not nodding through whatever the front bench dictates. the dail is completely irrelevant - there is no point discussing things so it just turns into a slagging match. tds vote along party lines.

Posted by rodney on February 08, 2010 at 10:23 PM GMT #

Are the rumours true that George will be replacing Charlie Bird??

Posted by marc on February 08, 2010 at 10:25 PM GMT #

I think George has done the right thing. Irish politics is in a state. When a person with real world experience took a seat I thought it would make a difference. In the States they elect a Nobel Peace Prize Physicist to the department of Energy - In Ireland we elect solicitors to Run the Finance department. They should have been listening to someone who had a clue.

Posted by Brian on February 08, 2010 at 10:26 PM GMT #

Every week someone from Fine Gael calls for a general election... Why the talk of preparing George for the future when they want change NOW and yet don't include George in the policy formation? Not surprised he has left...

Posted by 192.168.24.17 on February 08, 2010 at 10:28 PM GMT #

Ivan Yeats comments on George Lee were quite unfair, as Ivan himself abandoned the Dail and his Constituants to run his betting shops and take up other private endevours.George Lee at least has something his Dail colleagues dont have, honour.

Posted by Tom on February 08, 2010 at 10:28 PM GMT #

Is Mr Kenny incapable of allowing people critical of Mr Lee to speak. Each and every time a person begins to say anything critical of his so obvious friend Mr Lee Mr Kenny jumps in to interrupt them Is he an interviewr or an interrupter. Ego and Arrogance are presumably qualities required of RTE presenters.Mr Lee and Mr Kenny have both in abundance

Posted by Siobhan O Keeffe on February 08, 2010 at 10:30 PM GMT #

my blood is boiling at pats comment about idiots in the corner spreading slurry is this pat opionion on all of the rest of us who do similar jobs its better to be spreading slurry than speaking it on george lee maybe he should have used the media the he had ready access to to embarres/pressure kenny into accepting some of his economic ideas if he had balls to match his brains we might all have a better future t

Posted by thomas duane on February 08, 2010 at 10:40 PM GMT #

The resignation of George Lee from the Fine Gael Party is not about George Lee. It is really about the hopelesness of the Irish Political System. No doubt, there will be a lot of debate about the rights and wrongs of his decision. Personally, I believe he was honest to do so and that he is standing by his own high principles which to his great credit is not a particularly well practiced virtue in the Ireland of today. Reflect on this. To make real progresss in any situation or challenges in life requires bright people making bright and highly informed contributions and decisions. The alternative to this is mediocrity and chaos. The Irish Political System is I would venture with very limited exception,strewn with politicians of very average capability. Hence, mediocrity and chaos prevails!! As Morgan Freeman said in the movie The Shawshank Redemption when talking about missing his friend "Andy Dufreyne" following his escape "Some birds feathers are so bright they were never meant to be caged" The same could also apply to George Lee and his exit from the cage that is Irish politics.

Posted by Walter Hill on February 08, 2010 at 11:37 PM GMT #

George Lee was correct to resign. He sticks to honest principles. Reflect on this. To achieve success requires bright people making bright decisions. The alternative is mediocrity and chaos. Unfortunately the Irish Political System falls into the latter. He is well shot of it!

Posted by Walter Hill on February 08, 2010 at 11:45 PM GMT #

One thing is very clear to the irish voter whether george resigned for personal or egotistical reasons that Fine Gael are a bunch of card board cut outs more stayed in their ways than the british royal family all that matters to mr kenny and co is how do i look in front of the cameras?No substance and are very comfortable being in opposition sad fact is Fine Gael haven"t had a significant leader since Dr Garrett fitzgerald and thats almost 30 years ago the void has remained in this dull political party the lack of a decent leader remains an albatross around its political neck. great show keep up the good work pat!

Posted by gary hitchcock on February 09, 2010 at 12:54 PM GMT #

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