An Irish rogues’ gallery
On my visit to Dublin last week, I got to visit Tithe an Oireachtais, the Irish Parliament. A wonderful building, a beautiful blend of old and new. The same goes for the paintings on the walls, former presidents and prime ministers, some still alive and kicking, others gone to other pastures.
The paintings of previous Taoiseach, prime ministers, hang along an oval gallery, a passage into the House of Represantatives. Just recently, the Mahon report, 14 years in the making, was published. It showed quite clearly that in the 80s and the 90s, the period covered by the report, Ahern was receiving corrupt payment. Other cases show that Ahern didn’t really improve later in life.
But what is Ahern doing now? Like so many previous PMs – Tony Blair being a prime example – Ahern knows that in distant countries being a bit of a rogue does much less harm than the “ex-PM” title does good. So Bertie Ahern is now opening doors in China for Irish business men.
But Ahern is still hanging on the wall in the Irish Parliament – not being able to explain how you finance buying a flat is just nothing – and there is also the grand painting of Charlie Haughey. These paintings are a daily reminder to the Irish MPs that being a bit of a rogue doesn’t seem to do any harm in Irish politics. Brown envelopes? Never mind. Is that the message the Irish want to spread around?
Follow me on Twitter for running updates.
Dear Sigrún
Its interesting to see you are comparing Iceland and Ireland. Other than shared ancestry: the fact both were a colony of a larger power, and recent economic history have remarkable parallels. Irish politics like Iceland has been based on a deep division in society. This division has blinded people to the fact power corrupts and that political parties have to be tossed out every 5-10 years just to rid the country of the cronyism that is endemic in small countries.
D_Boone
2 Jun 12 at 5:59 am
I enjoy you because of your whole hard work on this web site. Gloria enjoys conducting research and it is simple to grasp why. A number of us learn all relating to the lively medium you convey rewarding tricks via this web blog and cause contribution from visitors about this issue and our own child is becoming educated a lot. Have fun with the rest of the year. You are carrying out a really good job.
nike off white
18 Jan 24 at 7:03 pm
I wanted to draft you a bit of note to be able to say thanks a lot over again for all the incredible methods you have discussed in this article. It has been so extremely generous of people like you to offer unreservedly what a few individuals might have advertised as an ebook in order to make some cash for their own end, most notably given that you could possibly have tried it if you ever considered necessary. Those creative ideas as well acted to be the great way to fully grasp many people have similar zeal much like my own to know significantly more with respect to this matter. I’m certain there are some more pleasurable times in the future for people who view your website.
supreme
19 Jan 24 at 8:27 pm
I intended to send you that little word in order to thank you over again with your pretty guidelines you have shown on this website. This is quite strangely generous of you to allow easily exactly what a few individuals could possibly have offered for sale as an e book in making some cash on their own, notably given that you could possibly have done it if you ever decided. Those techniques in addition served to be a good way to recognize that other people online have a similar passion much like my personal own to learn a little more in respect of this matter. I know there are lots of more pleasurable times up front for people who looked at your site.
bape
22 Jan 24 at 12:34 am