The Week on Twitter: Siteserv, Puppet Power, Father Ted and Dáil on the Dole
This week Twitter users weren’t too impressed with TV3’s news show Dáil on the Dole. The 20th anniversary of Father Ted saw the show being celebrated in wonderful ways, some of which were on Twitter. Everyone is tweeting and asking about the Siteserv scandal, involving the Government, IBRC and Denis O’Brien (all of which is explained below). Tweeters mixed up Joan Collins and Joan Collins, while Bosco and Dustin demonstrates their puppet power in the run up to the referendum.
Viewers Weren’t Doled Over #DailOnTheDole
On Monday a new television programme made its debut on TV3; Dáil on the Dole followed Fine Gael TD for Dublin South Central, Catherine Byrne, as she spent time with a constituent who is living off social welfare. Despite the misleading title, Deputy Catherine Byrne did not actually live off a dole-sized amount of money for a week; she simply followed around a single mother of two children, Laura Spencer, who is in receipt of social welfare payments.
Many of the tweets, which led to the show trending on Twitter, were regarding the deceiving name of the show. Many Tweeters pointed out that it would have been better if the TDs involved actually had to live on the dole for a month.
https://twitter.com/jen_harold/status/590256149741576192
Dáil on the Dole was less sensationalist than most of the topical shows that TV3 have produced. The programme showed Catherine Byrne follow Laura as she did her shopping in Lidl, Laura showed her the mould growing on the ceiling of her council accommodation and Laura explained all the problems that she faces.
'Tied by yisser party whips' – she has a point #DailOnTheDole
— Mark O'Brien (@markjsobrien) April 20, 2015
Catherine Byrne expressed her sympathy for Laura’s situation throughout the show promising things will get better when the economy is growing once again. She also called Dublin City Council on her behalf too. The people who were not won over by this impressive piece of PR seemed to be the ones to tweet about the show.
https://twitter.com/Disildoforus/status/590247061339025409
https://twitter.com/Data_Cables/status/590315894624149505
https://twitter.com/jocsor/status/590255637923295232
The second episode of Dáil on the Dole will air this Monday and will follow Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea as he joins a social welfare recipient in Limerick city. Labour Party TD for Dublin Joanna Tuffy and Independent TD for Waterford John Halligan will also appear on the show.
Ted Talk #FatherTed
On Tuesday Father Ted trended on Twitter as fans celebrated the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the show, often in weird and wonderful ways. One hardcore fan even put up a ‘Careful Now’ sign on the N11 for that morning.
As seen on the Dual Carriageway outside UCD this morning.
Anonymous letter makers, I salute you 🙂 #FatherTed pic.twitter.com/kS0ci8x6pB
— Rick O'Shea (@rickoshea) April 21, 2015
Aer Lingus took the opportunity to use the anniversary for a bit of cleaver social media marketing, but was thwarted by a response from Ryanair which led to a Twitter-off between the two airline companies.
We still remember the day Ted almost left Dougal, Mrs. Doyle and Jack behind at @ShannonAirport #FatherTed pic.twitter.com/wWzVt1WOJ9
— Aer Lingus (@AerLingus) April 21, 2015
.@AerLingus Fair play, you probably are the island’s favourite airline. Craggy Island, that is! #FrTed20 #TedAtTwenty pic.twitter.com/z6vnR587DV
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) April 21, 2015
.@Ryanair We won’t argue with that! Down with Rugged Island! #FatherTed20 #TedAtTwenty pic.twitter.com/IQ5jB1UhEI
— Aer Lingus (@AerLingus) April 21, 2015
Even Netflix, which has recently made Father Ted available in the US, joined in.
“That would be an ecumenical matter.” #FatherTed
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) April 21, 2015
Father Ted co-writer Graham Linehan expressed his thanks for all the kind words and celebrations through his Twitter account at the end of the day.
Ta to everyone for the kind words today. Very happy the show has had this extended life through the people who love it. Means a great deal x
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 21, 2015
In Deep Water #JoanCollins
On Monday morning TD Joan Collins, a United Left representative for Dublin South Central, was arrested during a peaceful protest against the installation of water meters in Crumlin. She, along with a number of other protesters and Councillor Pat Dunne, was arrested on Parnell Road and brought to Sundrive Road Garda Station. Later on Monday evening an impromptu protest also took place outside of the Garda station.
This represents a change in the policing of protests against water meters, which up until now were allowed by Gardaí once they were peaceful.
The incident had many people tweeting, but it wasn’t until Tuesday morning that Joan Collins was trending. Those who are less familiar with Irish politics and Dublin politicians got a bit confused about what all the hullabaloo was about and thought that Joan Collins, the famous British actress, had been arrested. There were enough mixed up tweets to warrant a response from the English Dame.
No I am not the Joan Collins Who was a rested yesterday At a Dublin protest meeting !!! The very idea!!
— Joan Collins (@Joancollinsdbe) April 21, 2015
TD Joan Collins responded to this prim tweet, which led to her name- their name- trending as the media picked up the story.
For the record I'm not @JoanCollinsOBE as I'd never take an honour from a monarch nor did I wear shoulder pads in the 80s. The very idea!
— Joan Collins T.D. (@JoanCollinsTD) April 21, 2015
A Government Oversite #SiteServ #SiteServScandal #DenisO’Brien
On Wednesday Independent TD Catherine Murphy received documents through the Freedom of Information Act, which showed that the Department of Finance, as well as the Finance Minister Michael Noonan, were concerned about the deal to sell a company called Siteserv. Siteserv is a company that provides various industrial services and was sold by state-owned IBRC (formerly Anglo-Irish Bank) to one of Denis O’Brien’s companies in 2012. The company was profitable, but had considerable debts which were written off before the sale leading to a loss of tax payer’s money.
On #siteserv Noonan says big debt write-offs happen every day. Has he told Angela Merkel?
— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole) April 24, 2015
The reason this news has had such a big reaction and caused such political controversy is because there were always questions surrounding why Sitserv was sold to Denis O’Brien’s company instead of the highest bidder, which was a French company. TD Catherine Murphy also says that the information in these documents is different to information that she received from the Finance Minister during parliamentary questions.
Since the story broke on Wednesday, the issue has been the subject of almost every parliamentary question asked in the Dáil and it has also led to a number of related terms trending on Twitter.
Cracks are forming. Keep knocking. #SiteServ #vinb
— Cllr Réada Cronin®️© (@ReadaCronin) April 23, 2015
Important to say Denis O Brien kept every job in siteserv and has hired many many more. Not every buyer might have done that.
— Tom Lyons (@TomLyonsBiz) April 23, 2015
More documents released on Thursday to The Irish Times, including meeting minutes, show that there were issues between IBRC and the Department of Finance. Opposition politicians have called for an independent inquiry to be set up to examine the sale.
Puppet Power #VoteYes #MarRef
Yesterday, old childhood favourites Dustin the Turkey and Bosco trended on Twitter after the two puppets featured in a video promoting a Yes vote in next month’s Marriage Equality referendum. Their defiance of RTÉ’s no-comment directive has delighted many Twitter users.
My heroes and the only men I've ever really loved. Dustin & Bosco should be allowed marry each other #YestoEquality https://t.co/VWnD7apoJm
— Aisling Bea (@WeeMissBea) April 24, 2015
"It's a bleedin' stupid law" Dustin tells Bosco. Preach, brother. https://t.co/bsoK2np9wC Check out http://t.co/Y9UnbS8Yac #YesEquality
— Roisin Ingle (@roisiningle) April 24, 2015
The charming video is nostalgic, funny and has a lovely innocence about it. It’s worth a watch whether you are for, against or indifferent when it comes to the referendum. The three minute video features Dustin, who is sporting a flower covered suit, calling Bosco for a chat. Bosco explains everything associated with the marriage referendum in simple terms to Dustin, stating at the end, “I think they should get all the boys and girls to ring all their family and friends and tell them straight up to vote yes!”
I'm a bird. I'm a bloke. I'll be voting YES! #straightupforequality pic.twitter.com/02ZXCPS1kx
— Dustin The Turkey (@DustinOfficial) April 3, 2015
Photo: Gloria2020 via Wikimedia Commons