This week, Uachtaran na hEireann Mary McAleese in response to the economic crisis said it was “Nip and Tuc all around including walking around the Aras switching off lights”.

We are in the midst of the biggest economic crisis since the foundation of the state, a time when frightened citizens look to their leaders for inspiration and leadership.. Will the image of our brave president, Uachtarán na hEireann Mary McAleese stoically making her way through the vast emptiness of the Aras switching off lights in the dead of night to save the nation calm the people?.

She did take a voluntary pay cut of 10% to her salary of €325,000 resulting in a saving to the taxpayer of €32,500 and apparently also is making some saving in the Aras household budget,, yes it appears that there is yet another budget at the Aras for the ESB bill !.

If Mary switched off ten 60W lights every night for a whole year she would save the exchequer 0.096cents * 12hours * 365 days * 10 lights = Savings of €4,205 a year.

This from the president of a country borrowing €70 MILLION per day... Are we in safe hands or should we be considering the BIG SWITCH?

But the candle at Aras an Uachtarain, an ever-burning light of hope, for all the exiles and emigrants of the diaspora will appear brighter now.

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Mammy, get the hammer there's a fly on daddy's head.

But she's switching lights off??.. could this mean the end of the diaspora?

The president should refrain from this sort of tokenism and keep a low profile, lest her own relvance come into question.

It's about time. Everytime I've seen her make a speech I thought "The lights are on but nobodies home"

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No Government that presides over an unemployment rate of above 6% has the right to govern this country - Brian Cowen