"I'm not answerable to you." Conor Lenihan replies to questions from journalist

[David Cochrane]

Interesting exchange between Adrian Weckler , technology writer for The Sunday Business Post, and new Junior Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources Conor Lenihan.

I had written a critical column (in the SBP, last Sunday) about how junior ministers are appointed to their jobs. In this vein, I criticised Lenihan's appointment, claiming that he had no grounding in technology issues.


I thought long and hard about writing a follow-up column this Sunday. But I decided not to, as it might seem, in the context, that I was unduly victimising an easy target (damned journalistic ethics).


However, I do think that the issues he raised are of public interest. So here is the conversation we had.

TechWire: "I'm not answerable to you."

The Minister repeatedly insists he's the best qualified person for the portfolio, and repeatedly refuses to answer any questions on his views concerning the new brief. Definitely worth a read.

[caveman]

That is funny. Is "I worked with Denis O'Brien for 10 years" enough of an argument.

Could the same charge (unqualified for the position) also be levelled at Brian Lenihan, Mary Coughlan etc etc..

[Gadfly]

Intriguing mantra: "I worked with Denis O'Brien."

Nor is it clear if he ever worked for anyone else.

This certainly demostrates O'Brien's particular competence for cultivating people who can be politically useful; not clear what competence it shows on our Conor's part.

Is there any link between this umbilical connection to the great tax exile and his uncanny ability to stay on mini-minister list? Has O'Brien interests related to his protege's new portfolio?

[Podolski]

When did he stop working for Denis O'Brien?

[caveman]

Intriguing mantra: "I worked with Denis O'Brien."

Nor is it clear if he ever worked for anyone else.

This certainly demostrates O'Brien's particular competence for cultivating people who can be politically useful; not clear what competence it shows on our Conor's part.

Is there any link between this umbilical connection to the great tax exile and his uncanny ability to stay on mini-minister list? Has O'Brien interests related to his protege's new portfolio?

I think we should wait a few years and then have a tribunal on this issue. By then, it may only cost 500 million to get the answers we know now.

[cavok]

Lenihan: 'I know about technology'

he later claimed that he 'invented the Internet'

[Watcher1]

I worked in PwC for a while under Donal O'Connor, but I couldn't run the Finance Brief, or a bank.

[David Cochrane]

He was a journalist on 98fm wasn't he? How does that make him an expert on technology?

[caveman]

I technically worked for Dennis O'Brien for a summer. In a call centre. Can I apply for a junior minister job?

[constitutionus]

that was hysterical !

no wonder these idiots are bricking it about new blood coming into the political areana. who the hell actually TALKS like that on an everyday basis?

"i worked for dennis o brien"

is that a boast or a veiled threat? either way one things for damn sure, its not a qualification for science and technology. i work in the financial sector - its not a liscene to print off me own money !

you know the more i think about it the more intrigued i am by that statement, what the hell is he trying to say? to turn one of his own phrases its up there with saying "i worked in abrakebabra- im qualified to be the AG"