We have a new government and a new Taoiseach. There is credit due to the three parties, who have worked hard and hammered out a Programme for Government. It is not the easiest climate to work in right now. A second wave of COVID-19 hangs over us, ever threatening. Our social lives have utterly changed. Our families have become our strength and their safety our constant concern. Everything we do is now prompted with dealing with the COVID-19 enemy.

We were encouraged at the outset to consider everyone infected and so that is how we continue to live. Every other day we are warned of the enormous economic downturn that’s coming. It’s a difficult terrain. How many times have we been asked to pull together? We’re in this together. We’re doing this for each other.

We’ve had a lot of crying, whinging and throwing the toys out of the pram

Compare that with the appalling way some of our politicians have reacted when they didn’t get a senior post in the new Government, or the correct call up to junior ministry (according to them). We’ve had a lot of crying, whinging and throwing the toys out of the pram!

They claim to represent us and work for us. But, it appears that they do not know the difference between local parish pump politics and national politics.

I’m appalled with this “mé féin” attitude from some politicians, and the naivety of actually giving out about it publicly. Humility and dignity have been sadly lacking.

Refusing a job

There were only so many positions that each leader had and difficult choices had to be made. Since when does “deputy” or “vice” anything ensure a top job. It doesn’t. As for the men across the parties that refused the office of junior minister – I’m baffled at this arrogance. Instead they will sit in the back benches, prolonging the whinging and making sure to gather the votes for the next time out.

It basically comes down to the fact that there are men and there are mice

In my view, politicians who refuse to step up to the plate do not deserve to be re-elected.

Could you imagine if Leo Varadkar dug his heels in and refused to step down as Taoiseach? That can’t have been an easy thing to do. It basically comes down to the fact that there are men and there are mice.

Shout out to Tony

Contrast this selfish attitude with that of Dr Tony Holohan. His wife Emer has entered palliative care and all this time, Tony has given his all to keeping us safe. This is his job and I’m sure he never planned to be on national television each evening for months on end. He didn’t whinge about it.

I will miss his guiding hand and reassuring calm voice. He is one in a million and has become a household name in every home in Ireland. Through his guidance and that of his team, many lives have likely been saved. I wish him well at this difficult time.

In our school a few weeks back, our principal, Aisling Heidt, sent out a note to her staff and pupils saying that she would like us all to say thank you to the frontline staff that have worked so hard during the last few months. It was a simple task; send a little video of ourselves clapping our health workers.

Can you imagine our surprise and delight when into our phones came a video of Dr Tony Holohan thanking the boys and girls, parents and staff, for our kind words and urging us to continue to keep our families and school safe

I stood in my kitchen and clapped my hands and Julie recorded the clip. It took me 20 seconds. I sent it off to Lorraine Desmond, who was going to compile the clips. The pupils and their families took on the task with gusto. Lorraine did a fabulous job. The final piece was sent off to the HSE and put up on our school website.

Can you imagine our surprise and delight when into our phones came a video of Dr Tony Holohan thanking the boys and girls, parents and staff, for our kind words and urging us to continue to keep our families and school safe. It was distributed to us via WhatsApp.

It was a beautiful, personal message and we treasure it. People have suffered during this pandemic and so many have lost their jobs. It is time that all politicians started to think about others and got on with the task of getting the country back on track.