Lots of politicians were proudly wearing the green in Brussels this week in honour of the Irish ministerial contingent in town. The teal green necktie was everywhere.
Gilmore was in town on Tuesday to meet the committee on foreign affairs. At a briefing , he sat next to Elmar Brok, the committee’s impressively mustachioed chairman.
The German MEP dutifully sported our austeriteal green tie, but the Tánaiste’s bright red one stuck out.
“We’re living in times of austerity. One tie has to last six months and it can’t be worn every day,” he explained.