Mick had noted the prospect of Bertie Ahern addressing both Houses of Parliament.. in what is now to be the week before the Irish General Election. But some of the political parties contesting that election are not enthusiatic about it, for obvious enough reasons. Interestingly the BBC political editor, Mark Devenport seems to be suggesting that the event might be postponed.
I’ve been catching up on some reading, recently. Most pleasantly surprised by John Drennan’s latest opus from Gill and Macmillan, Cute Hoors and Pious Protestors… It’s early days yet, but I was struck by this paragraph, part of a dissection of Fianna Fail near the beginning: One of the more fatal consequences of our colonial [...] read our review »
If you want to get a flavour of the proceedings at the Political Studies Association conference on its opening day, then the Storify collation below will bring you some of the images, tweets and sounds of the day. Particular highlights included: the Opening Plenary with David Blunkett, Peter Riddell and Matthew Flinders; and the late [...] read our review »
It’s not published until 3rd March, but one book I recommend you place an advance order for from Slugger’s Bookstore is James Harkin’s Niche. Belfast émigré Harkin examines a number of stories from business, culture and politics and comes to a single insight: everywhere the broad middle is collapsing. He offers Woolworths as an iconic exemplar [...] read our review »
Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald has rounded on Ruairi Quinn accusing him of being “totally begrudging and negative”.
Bertie has a suitcase unpacked and ready; he’s going for sure! It’s preordained or should that be presigned?
I can’t understand Mary Lou’s comment. Unless SF are hoping to form a coalition with FF why would she leap to Bertie’s defence?
The reason that Bertie should be defended from attack on this issue is simple. He had no control over the northern parties when they agreed to launch powersharing in early May. Anybody, and this includes the editorial writer of the Irish News, who thinks that he planned the various photo-ops so they would occur just before the election is begrudging and politically befuddled. Does anyone seriously think that Bertie appearing with Paisley will get him extra votes in the south? Does anyone believe that making a speech in Westminster is going to get him extra votes? I don’t think so. I think it’s wrong, when there are so many issues on which Bertie is vulnerable, to attack him on an issue where he is strongest. No other Irish Taoiseach has done more than he has to bring peace to Ireland and I think he deserves credit for that. And, if as some polls suggest, he’s on his way out, it would be wrong to deny him whatever ‘days of glory’ that are left to him on spurious grounds of political self interest (the Labour Party) and pure igorance (the Irish News).