Why are government ministers meeting retailers to discuss a dispute with their landlord?

[Brendan Burgess]

Ministers meet with Stillorgan Village retailers amid parking fees dispute

Parking fees make ‘zero commercial sense’ says Minister of State Neale Richmond

www.irishtimes.com

Local Fine Gael politicians Maeve O’Connell, Minister of State Richmond, and Councillor Eoin Driscoll were joined by Minister of Enterprise Peter Burke, and Minister of State for Small Business and Retail Alan Dillon at the shopping centre on Monday where they met retailers on the issue.

The rent dispute is an important rent dispute. But why would three Ministers/Junior Ministers get involved?

 

[Purple]

Votes in the next election. That's why.

 

[ArthurMcB]

Good question BB. Surely its a private matter. Shoukdnt ministers be more concerned with policy and running the country

 

[Purple]

Shouldn't ministers be more concerned with policy and running the country

They should be but those who only concern themselves with those matters don't get reelected.

 

[Leper]

It's all about visibility, visibility, visibility. Sinn Féin started it years ago. A minister, Taoiseach, is being interviewed for the nightly news and usually in front of a few little known, small-time politicians at the rear nodding their heads trying to look intelligent. Donald Trump does this too except in a different way eg he mentions some Republican as a "Good Man" just to boost ratings. It's a kind of an Orwellian ploy. Any television ploy is good for politicians.

 

[odyssey06]

Not many votes if they turn up and do nothing, opposite more likely.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

A minister, Taoiseach, is being interviewed for the nightly news and usually in front of a few little known, small-time politicians at the rear nodding their heads trying to look intelligent.

That describes it brilliantly. Nodding donkeys elbowing their way into the background.

 

[Purple]

It's all about visibility, visibility, visibility. Sinn Féin started it years ago. A minister, Taoiseach, is being interviewed for the nightly news and usually in front of a few little known, small-time politicians at the rear nodding their heads trying to look intelligent.

In fairness I think FF started it... and I think you are starting to get cynical in your old age. You've lost that spark of innocent wide-eyed wonder.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

But why would three Ministers/Junior Ministers get involved?

Fintan O'Toole in his opinion piece last Tuesday gave out about our dysfunctional system of governance and this epitomises the point he was making.

 

[Sue Ellen]

That describes it brilliantly. Nodding donkeys elbowing their way into the background.

Shane Ross was the master of photobombing