Differences between Austria and Ireland

Vienna - October 28th, 2008

• A 35-year-old tram driver in the Austrian capital Vienna was bidding farewell to the passengers of his tram with the spoken Nazi-era salute "Sieg Heil!" (meaning: Hail Victory!).
• The incident was widely ignored, but reported in a Jewish newspaper.
• When questioned by his bosses, the driver did not deny using the words. But he said "it was just a joke".
• Vienna's Public Transport Authority took action and sacked the driver with immediate effect and without any severance pay.
• A spokesman for the public prosecutors' office in Vienna said the driver could face prosecution, as any use of Nazi symbols and phrases is a criminal offence in Austria.
• If found guilty, the man could face a jail sentence of up to ten years.

Dublin - October 29th, 2008

• Conor Lenihan, TD, the 45-year-old Minister of State for Integration, called Fine Gael TD Dr. Leo Varadkar in the Dáil "a Fascist" and gave the physical Nazi salute (outstretched arm).
• The incident was widely reported in all Irish media.
• When questioned this morning by Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1, he did not deny the incident.
• After trying to wriggle himself out of the situation verbally by stating that "it was just a joke", he eventually withdrew his remark under pressure from Pat Kenny and Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney.
• He did not say that he was sorry, nor did he apologise to Dr. Leo Varadkar.
• Conor Lenihan remains a Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State for Integration.
• No further action is taken, and no criminal prosecution will take place.

I do not think that any comment from me is needed on this. The facts speak for themselves.

The Emerald Islander