Deputies and senators address each other as ‘comrade’ in corridors as speculation continues about Oireachtas member allegedly recruited as a Russian agent
In the Dáil, Taoiseach Simon Harris didn’t want to entertain protests from members of People Before Profit, among others, about his imminent dash to Dublin Airport to catch a flight to Washington for a meeting with Joe Biden. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA WireThis shocking turn of events was greeted with the utmost gravity by TDs and senators upon their return to Leinster House on Tuesday.
Over in the Seanad, Marie Sherlock shared their concern. The reports are being “treated with a degree of bemusement and it should not be because it is deadly serious and it casts a cloud over us all”. The more the Opposition criticises aspects of his Coalition’s pre-election, re-election bonanza, the more the Taoiseach asks them to spell out which particular giveaway measure they want to stopwho conveyed this startling news to the Dáil, triumphantly proving the old adage that it takes one to know one.“Look, Ceann Comhairle,” he said, sighing heavily.
Simon said he could have sent in sub to stand in for him but he wanted to there. “I take my duties in this House seriously.”Meanwhile, the Seanad seemed much more interested in establishing the identity of “Agent Cobalt” who was tantalisingly partially unveiled by the Sunday Times last week.“No member of any House has been publicly identified, let alone charged with any offence in relation to any allegation. It is just a media story,” he cautioned Marie Sherlock.
Apparently this individual is somebody with a big ego and susceptible to flattery. Which leaves the field wide open, was also very concerned. “By any measure, if you are not working for this State and you’re acting secretly for another state, then you are a traitor to this one and it is beholden on this House to figure out .”“No, no, I’m not identifying them, I’m just saying they’re a traitor. That’s all I’m saying, like,” said the Kerry-based senator.
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