joeSoap
06/03/2006, 10:40 AM
Ryanair grounds O'Donoghue for forgetting his ID
HIGH-flying politicians who find themselves inundated with calls from irate constituents often dream of basking in anonymity.
But one grounded Cabinet member yesterday learned an ordinary life is not always what it is cracked up to be after he was told he couldn't board a flight.
The reason? Because he forgot to bring any identification.
Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue had been in Cork for the weekend on private business. He travelled to the airport to board a 9.50am flight to Dublin.
But a routine check-in turned to red-faces all around after the Kerry politician was informed he would need a passport or driver's licence in order to comply with Ryanair security procedures.
And despite his protestations, the minister was told he could not fly.
He had to endure the journey to Dublin by road instead.
A spokesman for Cork Airport confirmed that Mr O'Donoghue was booked on a Ryanair flight yesterday morning but he was unable to board because of his failure to produce ID.
He said the minister had hoped to take another flight but ended up "going by road to Dublin".
A spokesman said Mr O'Donoghue wasn't making "a great fuss" about yesterday morning's events.
"It was one of those things really. It could happen to anyone," he said.
The minister was travelling to Dublin to appear on RTE's 'The Week in Politics' programme where he engaged in some tough exchanges with Cork TD and MEP Simon Coveney and Green Party chairman John Gormley on anti-social behaviour and excessive drinking.
Mr O'Donoghue attacked Mr Coveney for his announcement on Friday that he would be standing for the Dail again despite being an MEP.
The minister, a keen horse racing fan, later shook off his flying blues as he headed to Leopardstown for yesterday's afternoon meeting.
HIGH-flying politicians who find themselves inundated with calls from irate constituents often dream of basking in anonymity.
But one grounded Cabinet member yesterday learned an ordinary life is not always what it is cracked up to be after he was told he couldn't board a flight.
The reason? Because he forgot to bring any identification.
Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue had been in Cork for the weekend on private business. He travelled to the airport to board a 9.50am flight to Dublin.
But a routine check-in turned to red-faces all around after the Kerry politician was informed he would need a passport or driver's licence in order to comply with Ryanair security procedures.
And despite his protestations, the minister was told he could not fly.
He had to endure the journey to Dublin by road instead.
A spokesman for Cork Airport confirmed that Mr O'Donoghue was booked on a Ryanair flight yesterday morning but he was unable to board because of his failure to produce ID.
He said the minister had hoped to take another flight but ended up "going by road to Dublin".
A spokesman said Mr O'Donoghue wasn't making "a great fuss" about yesterday morning's events.
"It was one of those things really. It could happen to anyone," he said.
The minister was travelling to Dublin to appear on RTE's 'The Week in Politics' programme where he engaged in some tough exchanges with Cork TD and MEP Simon Coveney and Green Party chairman John Gormley on anti-social behaviour and excessive drinking.
Mr O'Donoghue attacked Mr Coveney for his announcement on Friday that he would be standing for the Dail again despite being an MEP.
The minister, a keen horse racing fan, later shook off his flying blues as he headed to Leopardstown for yesterday's afternoon meeting.