Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots speaking at the UFU AGM.
ADVERTISEMENT
In the world of Government ministers, every statement and every event is usually carefully choreographed by diligent civil servants.
Before stepping out of the ministerial limousine, hopefully they have read their brief – background on the event, some pen pictures on who you are likely to meet, and “lines to take” if some of those pesky press people get asking questions.
But sometimes it goes wrong, as happened up north to Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots last week.
ADVERTISEMENT
He was given briefing papers ahead of a debate at Stormont on a proposed Climate Change Act. It included a “line to take” which said that language around climate change should not use the words “emergency” or “crisis”.
Officials thought that was what he wanted to hear. Minister Poots thought it was the view of his officials, and subsequently told the BBC so.
That prompted a different sort of crisis within his department, with the top brass summoned by politicians to Stormont, and turning from climate change deniers, to accepting that the end of the world is nigh, within the space of a few hours.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
In the world of Government ministers, every statement and every event is usually carefully choreographed by diligent civil servants.
Before stepping out of the ministerial limousine, hopefully they have read their brief – background on the event, some pen pictures on who you are likely to meet, and “lines to take” if some of those pesky press people get asking questions.
But sometimes it goes wrong, as happened up north to Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots last week.
He was given briefing papers ahead of a debate at Stormont on a proposed Climate Change Act. It included a “line to take” which said that language around climate change should not use the words “emergency” or “crisis”.
Officials thought that was what he wanted to hear. Minister Poots thought it was the view of his officials, and subsequently told the BBC so.
That prompted a different sort of crisis within his department, with the top brass summoned by politicians to Stormont, and turning from climate change deniers, to accepting that the end of the world is nigh, within the space of a few hours.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS