By Tony Leavy

Ireland is in the middle of a big freeze since Christmas. Falls of snow and temperatures of minus ten or more at night have nearly brought the country to a halt. We haven't had these temperatures for decades. Schools are being closed and commercial life is being curtailed with a consequent cost to the economy. Roads are frozen and salt and sand mixtures which are used to de-ice the main thoroughfares are running out. Since the UK and much of northern Europe is in the same boat there is great demand for salt. Available reserves are being depleted and there is delay in replacing these reserves. To make matters worse we are facing the prospect of main roads being closed if the problem is not solved.

Much is being made of the fact that some of the government ministers, who should be co-ordinating relief work, are away in sunnier climes on holidays. On previous occasions when this happened the co-ordinating minister became known, not too affectionately, as the minister for snow.

Another big story in the news is that the prime minister of Northern Ireland is in trouble because his wife [aged sixty], and also a high profile public representative, is alleged to have had an affair with a twenty year old man. She is alleged to have become involved with him when the twenty year old applied for money from public funds to help him set up in business. The latter transaction was probably totally legitimate but the whole affair was recently the subject of a TV programme.

As you can imagine the uncharitable among us are taking a more than usual interest in the unfolding of these facts on the public media. Northerners are stereotyped as being dull, dour and proper while we in the south are stereotyped as being irresponsible, unreliable and corrupt.

However in this case I'm afraid southern scandals, in which it is alleged large amounts of money in brown envelopes change hands between middle aged male politicians, are turning out to be very dull indeed. They certainly cannot compare with an alleged affair between a glamorous sixty year old female politician and a young fellow setting up a business allegedly in need of a helping hand from the public coffers. Tabloid newspapers are having a field day. What tends to be forgotten in these situations is the devastating effect the publication of the private details of family difficulties has on the individuals involved. The political future of the Northern Ireland prime minister is now a matter for public discussion.

The third issue which dominates the media in Ireland now is the fact that the minister for finance in the Republic, who is fifty years of age, is reported to have been diagnosed with cancer. Irrespective of political affiliation all wish him well. However controversy surrounded the publication of the illness at Christmas time. As in the case of the northern scandal the minister is a public person and his illness is not a private affair but is freely discussed in the media. This makes it more difficult for him and his family. Whether he should stay on as minister, while receiving treatment, is a matter of public debate.