Opinion

Tom Kelly: Phil Hogan's departure showed that no one is too big to be replaced

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly is an Irish News columnist with a background in politics and public relations. He is also a former member of the Policing Board.

Former EU commissioner Phil Hogan
Former EU commissioner Phil Hogan Former EU commissioner Phil Hogan

“Stupid is what stupid does” said Forrest Gump.

These words summed up the extraordinary political gaffes last week by those involved in Golfgate and the infamous tweet about victims of the Troubles from Martina Anderson of Sinn Féin.

It is hard to believe that a simple golf society outing could have such a devastating impact on the careers of so many.

Phil Hogan - the Irish Commissioner in the EU - was the biggest casualty. The golf and subsequent attendance at the dinner was not what finished his tenure in office. No it was the drip feeding of explanations which appeared confusing and contradictory. As he said he broke no laws.

Hogan’s formidable negotiating skills will be missed both in Ireland and the EU but his departure proves that no-one is too big to be replaced.

What catches politicians out is often not the initial transgression but the convoluted narratives which follow.

Ironically Hogan’s departure could revive the fortunes of the former tánaiste and justice minister, Frances Fitzgerald MEP. Appointment as a commissioner would be an incredible turnaround in a flagging career.

The Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has asked for two nominations from the Irish government - one male and one female.

Astonishingly, of the ten commissioners nominated by Ireland only one has been a woman - Marie Geoghegan Quinn. Already the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and finance minister Paschal Donohoe have ruled themselves out for the post.

Simon Coveney is an obvious heavy hitter whose nomination as commissioner may help Ireland retain the trade portfolio but it would also signal the end of his ambitions to lead Fine Gael and become taoiseach.

But the nomination of Fitzgerald or fellow MEP, Mairead McGuinness, would avoid the need for a by-election. It is doubtful if any of the coalition parties want to test their popularity at the polls just yet.

Golfgate has turned into an costly outing. The attendees were - to put it bluntly - stupid. That said, they have shown principle as apart from their apologies, the participants also resigned office or received sanction. This is important as it upholds the principle of consequences for falling below the standards expected of those in public life.

Ms Anderson on other hand settled on an apology as a sufficient sign of remorse for her inappropriate, inaccurate and insensitive post about victims. The notion of resignation most likely never entered into her head, though it should have. Despite her regular outbursts, she never seems to be reeled in by the Sinn Féin leadership.

Certainly she avoided the fate of former West Tyrone MP, Barry McElduff, who was publicly disciplined and stood down as MP by Sinn Féin for his tactless selfie with a loaf of Kingsmills on his head.

It could be argued that Anderson’s hissy fit on twitter was much more insulting to a broader range of innocent victims of the Troubles and therefore it required a more fulsome statement of admonishment from the Sinn Féin leadership.

The tweet was deleted. And presumably when wiser counsel prevailed, an apology was issued. Anderson can ill afford any more impulsive keyboard rants.

Politicians are human and like the rest of the population will make mistakes. Some of those gaffes are forgivable; others are not.

Unfortunately with the prevalence of social media errors of judgment by public figures spread like wildfire. In the media frenzy which follows often politicians are not given the opportunity to explain. Sometimes there is no need to explain because the fault is caught on celluloid for all to see.

Public anger is sometimes justified but as a democracy there must also be safeguards to ensure that such anger doesn’t degenerate into herd or lynch mob mentality.

The public has low expectations of politicians but the latter could improve their standing by accepting responsibility when things go wrong. Contrition is not just good for the soul - it’s good for the career too.