April 3, 2008
Bye Bye Bertie
Bertie Ahern, who has just resigned as Irish prime minister, is a Dubliner with the common touch. Taxi drivers in Dublin liked to point out his relatively modest house and the suburban pub in which he allegedly drank. Bertie’s outward modesty contrasted with the high-living of his political mentor, former pm, Charlie Haughey. But the apparent end of his political career is very reminiscent of Haughey. Both men were ultimately laid low by official tribunals investigating their finances and unexplained payments they had recieved. Ahern must now wince at Haughey’s (admiring) description of him as “the most devious, the most cunning of them all.”
All of that makes Ahern sound like a very traditional Irish politician and prime minister. But watching Bertie operate in Europe over the past decade, it struck me that he represented a new Ireland. He was prime minister during the period in which Irish GDP-per-capita overtook that of Britain. And he dealt with the British and with other European leaders with complete confidence in who he was - and in the country he represented. That enabled him to form an excellent working relationship with Tony Blair - which was crucial in bringing peace to Northern Ireland. Ahern’s experience and patience as a negotiator was then used to good effect in Europe - where he successfully concluded negotiations on the European Union constitution: an achievement that had eluded Silvio Berlusconi of Italy.
After the successful Brussels negotiations on the constitution - chaired by Ahern - a lot of the Brussels press corps piled into the local Irish pub, “Kitty O’Shea’s”. The assumption was that Ahern - the typical Irishman, after all - would inevitably celebrate his achievements with a pint of Guinness at the nearest pub. But Bertie never showed up. It later transpired that he had instead spent the evening drinking champagne at Brussels’s poshest hotel. That’s the new Ireland for you.
If you ever lived in the Chicago of Richard Daley (father or son or holy whatever) nothing about Bernie Ahern or the “new” Ireland will surprise you at all. It’s all been bench tested on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Posted by: David Seaton | April 3rd, 2008 at 7:22 am | Report this commenthttp://seaton-newslinks.blogspot.com
Perfect analysis of Ahern’s European standing. He would have made a perfect candidate for EU Council President were it not for his financial dealings… (can he make a comeback?)
http://www.quindiblog.eu/
Posted by: ArnaudH | April 3rd, 2008 at 10:47 am | Report this commentBritish prime ministers can do favours in office (like take the country to an unnecessary war against the national interests, on the say-so of powerful foreigners) and collect handsomely later on the American lecture circuit (both Thatcher and John Major became millionaire by giving talks in America at six figure sums per occasion. Blair will outdo them.)
An Irish premier doesn’t have the same luxury. If he wants money, he has to grab it whilst in office.
Best,
P
Posted by: Pacifist | April 3rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm | Report this commentP: “British prime ministers can do favours in office” I suppose it’s our decadent culture, or perhaps longing for former glories, that encourages them to be in the pocket of “powerful foreigners”. Do you mean the Chinese for example? Otherwise why is Brown receiving the Olympic flame on Sunday? Who can you mean?
Credit is due to Ahern and I for one applaud his achievements, in spite of his untimely downfall.
Posted by: AYC | April 3rd, 2008 at 2:27 pm | Report this commentAYC…you don’t need to be too sociological….people like money and people who are so extremely attracted by celebrity, wealth and status as the Blairs were, would like / need lots of money.
Best,
P
Posted by: Pacifist | April 3rd, 2008 at 2:31 pm | Report this commentDear P, Irony is not a metal.
But you’re right - people do like money (Is that why the IRGC controls half of Iran?). Blair and his wife ARE attracted to money / rich people / the good life. On the other hand, he is quite intelligent enough to know where the interests of this country lie, at least in foreign policy terms, and these do not include personal money making opportunities.
Posted by: AYC | April 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm | Report this commentBertie was very effective in Brussels. So was Padraig Flynn, former Irish commissioner and better known as one of the “Flynnstones”. Padraig’s description of Fianna Fail money politics so shocked a senior Commission official that, I am told, his hair fell out. NB Bertie may shortly be out of a job, but he still has his hair….
Posted by: martyb | April 3rd, 2008 at 5:56 pm | Report this commentDear AYC,
I think based on Blair’s poll ratings, most Brits thought that he is a true nationalist…an Israeli or American nationalist, that is.
Anyhow, we digress from Mr. Ahern!
Best,
P
Posted by: Pacifist | April 3rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm | Report this commentMost analysts appear to believe he did the “right thing” so that the Lisbon Treaty is not compromised and it moves forward…It is a pity such a talent exits the stage this way. Especially, as he no doubt would have been a candidate for the EU Prez and he was very good for Ireland…even, if somehow he explains this all away …I doubt it would be in time or allow him enough time to lobby for the EU position now…so now the intrigue begins! assuming it is ratified by end of 2008, as to who will get the top job in Brussels!!! …
Posted by: Lisa-Helene Lawson | April 3rd, 2008 at 6:45 pm | Report this comment