Commons Speaker Martin
Irish Government ministers today mocked House of Commons Speaker, Michael Martin, for tendering his resignation over the minister expense scandals. Government sources also expressed concern that people might confuse the British Speaker with the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs of the same name, bringing disrepute upon Dr. Martin, who has said he would never resign under any circumstances and would have to be “dragged out of office kicking and screaming.”
“To resign because of a financial scandal is just silly,” a source near the government said. “Look at the scandals that our own politicians have withstood, and none of them would dream of giving up either their jobs or their expenses. Our British neighbours clearly have no stomach for a fight, or else their electorate is much more demanding.”
“I think this sets a very bad precedent,” said another source. “One would have ask, what next? Would one have to resign for taking illegal campaign contributions, for reneging on campaign promises, for suitcases of cash being passed around constituency offices, or for making a complete bollocks of the economy? Who would be left in government?”
