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Politician wants time off to watch European soccer finals - VIDEO

Mick Wallace has failed to persuade the Irish parliament to take time off for soccer

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Friday, November 18, 2011, 7:56 AM

Updated Friday, November 18, 2011, 4:00 PM

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Mick Wallace

Photo by Google Images

Colorful politician Mick Wallace has failed to persuade the Irish parliament to take time off to follow Giovanni Trapattoni’s football team to the European Championship.

Wexford deputy Wallace, the man who helped Irish striker Kevin Doyle realise his potential, wants the parliament to break while Ireland are playing in Poland and the Ukraine.

Well known for his penchant for wearing pink shirts, Wallace first congratulated the team on reaching Euro 2012 when he returned to work in the Dail, then requested that the House take time off next summer to watch the finals.

“Given that there will probably be a six-week recess at some stage next summer, would the Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) consider arranging two weeks of it to coincide with the first two weeks of the soccer?” asked Wallace.

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Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore called foul on the Wallace proposal however.

“It shows how much times have changed around here,” said Gilmore.

“There used to be a time when opposition deputies complained about the length of the summer recess. This is certainly a first in that we have got a request not only to extend it, but to have it in June.

“Unwittingly, Deputy Wallace might have stumbled on an issue which will find considerable support on the government side.

“But we’ll have to watch the games on the television, Mick.” Independent Wexford deputy Wallace then went on Twitter to clarify that he had asked for the recess to be reorganised, not extended.

Nster.com

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Towngate | Nov 21, 2011, 06:09 AM EST

You should apologise because you are NOT 'calling things as they are'! In your comment @ 05.15 Nov 19, your own words state: "Paddy skipped WW2". You are quite simply WRONG about that! Don't insult the Irish people by now trying to wriggle and squirm your cowardly way out of this! ~ be a man, and try to find the courage to apologise. The freedoms you now take for granted cost many dead bodies. 50 thousand of the 200 thousand Irish volunteer Recruits in WW2,for a start! ~ and to think they died for the likes of you!

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gobdawpaddy | Nov 21, 2011, 04:46 AM EST

Why would I apologize for calling things as they are? Ireland is neutral, and that would probably be an excuse for Dev's snivelling with Kempel, that is until there is a few USD to be garnered. When the US started refueling in Shannon, paying large fees in the process, Paddy very quickly forgot about its neutrality. In other jurisdictions, someone that will do anything for money has a name. The original topic of the debate here was TD MIck Wallace, who wants the dail schedule to be arranged around soccer games. This is the calibre of moron that the Irish electorate vote to represent them. Ireland is neck deep in problems but for Wallace, soccer is more important?

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Towngate | Nov 20, 2011, 08:44 AM EST

Gob: You are displaying apalling ignorance on the subject of the Irish contribution to the British fight for Western Democratic Freedom.(Which you currently enjoy!) Information on the Irish Recruitment and her Fallen is readily available online and elsewhere, and should not be ignored. At Islandbridge in Dublin the Queen and the Irish President laid a wreath at a ceremony to commemorate them, during the recent State Visit. Even putting that aside, information is now becoming available which shows a very high level of co-operation and 'understanding' between Great Britain and Ireland which has surprised many. It might be better if you did not comment further of this subject until you have had the decency to try to become better informed. ~~~ My instinct is that your monumental personal Cowardice will prevent you from doing so,or ever having the guts to make an apology,; - so you will become just another moronic 'paddy-basher', who would rather wallow in his bigotry and hate, than learn and admit the truth!

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gobdawpaddy | Nov 19, 2011, 06:32 PM EST

Town, Paddy never commemorated Armistice day or Poppy day. I accept that many Irish troops admirably serve under the UN flag around the world but with the caveat that they go in after the 'heavy lifting' has been done. Where were they in WW2 (de merginci) or in the early stages of the situation in Bosnia? I wouldn't be lightly making reference to cowardice especially when one considers my recount of Dev's actions post Adolf, Paddy.... a pathetcic race.

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Towngate | Nov 19, 2011, 06:05 PM EST

Gobdawpaddy: For your information, we here in Britian and Ireland have just commemorated Armistice Day denoting the end of the WW2 and Rememberance Sunday ('Poppy Day') to honour all those who fell in battle in the British Armed Forces. They include the 50 thousand of the 200 thousand volunteer recruits from the Republic of Ireland alone. For your further information; the Irish Defence Forces have been stationed around the Globe serving as part of the UN Peacekeeping Force. Now,'gobdawpaddy', I think you owe all these 'paddies';dead and alive, a sincere apology. Let's see if you are 'man' enough and have it in you! If you don't, I am sure all readers will view your future 'comments' in the light of your Cowardice!

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mamaginnty | Nov 19, 2011, 11:49 AM EST

Big Gob, he was having a laugh at the government who are never in the Dail half the time anyway. Now in America people are beginning to speak out about the thousands of brothers, husbands and sons sent to thier deaths and for what. They would rather have them home alive than call them heroes.

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gobdawpaddy | Nov 19, 2011, 05:15 AM EST

Well Peter, should there ever be a problem around the globe, I wouldn't expect Paddy to show up. Jeez, when I joond de armie, I diddint no I wud hav te foire a gun, now I tink Im goin def so I'll soo. Of course Paddy skipped WW2, or as you refer to it ' de mergenci' with Dev nearly drowning in his own nasal excrement getting over tO Kempel's residence to express condolences on behalf of the Irish people on the death of Hitler. Leave our heroes alone and keep your lads fit till de next bin strike.

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Towngate | Nov 18, 2011, 02:11 PM EST

This clown wants time off to watch the finals? He must not be supporting Ireland,in that case. ~ If the people of Wexford had a tidder of sense, they'd boot him out, freeze his pension, and make sure this Chancer had the rest of his life to pay back the millions he owes and watch all the soccer she wants! Pink shirts,how are you!

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Fightin69th | Nov 18, 2011, 12:23 PM EST

During the 2002 World Cup, My cousin, a die hard soccer fan, had to take her Junior Cert when the Germany Match was been played. These Feckers can piss off

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LoyalCitizen | Nov 18, 2011, 12:08 PM EST

As this fool is bankrupt he probably will have the time in the world because he cannot be in the Irish Parliament.

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sirpeter | Nov 18, 2011, 09:45 AM EST

Well at least Gobshite the Irish government don't ask thousands of it's citizens to give up their life's to fight in countries that American soldiers can hardly find on a map just to make a few bucks so that some can go to University.You can't get much more backward and dumber than that.

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gobdawpaddy | Nov 18, 2011, 08:19 AM EST

This is the standard of person that the Wexford electorate vote for? He has as a priority the Euro 2012 finals as people all over Ireland, including his Wexford constituency, are having difficulty paying their mortgage and feeding their family. Of course the people of Wexford aren't the only ones guilty of electing morons. The Irish electorate has a history of it. Here in the states we elected "W" which has been proven a terrible mistake but the Irish electorate have repeatedly elected backward people (and in certain cases known crooks) to represent them. Of course in a democracy you are free to vote for cheetah.

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