TY Trip to Leinster House

On Tuesday, 16th November our TY CSPE class visited Leinster House. When we arrived at Leinster House we waited in the security checkpoint and then were greeted by Deputy Ruairí Quinn’s assistant, Ian O’Mara, who directed us towards the Labour Party room. 

An irritating bell rang out throughout the building which Ruairí Quinn explained to us, was to inform TDs to vote.  He told us about some of his earlier life before he was a politician and then how he became involved in politics. After answering a few questions he then brought us on a tour of Leinster House. While on the tour of Leinster House he showed us a number of pictures which had been taken when J.F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Tony Blair had visited the Dáil. 

We were then brought around the rest of Leinster House and after pausing to answer a few more questions we were brought into the Public Gallery which looks down on the Dáil chamber.  After a short while, Ruairí Quinn left and we were left in the chamber on our own.  At the time, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey,  was being asked a number of questions by members of the Opposition which was very interesting.  At 4:30pm a number of members of Government and the Opposition entered, including Taoiseach, Brian Cowen and Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny.  We stayed for a short while after to hear some of the questions asked of the Taoiseach and answers he gave. The Leader of the Opposition, Enda Kenny, accused Brian Cowen of the obvious, that he the Taoiseach and his Government weren’t doing  their jobs.  We then left and got the bus home. 
Peadar Charles (TY)