NiallOK’s Blog

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Yes, the surprise announcement has been made this morning that An Taoiseach, Patrick Bartholomew “Bertie” Ahern has announced that he will submit his resignation and depart office on Tuesday, May the 6th. He’ll also be stepping down as Fianna Fáil leader on that day. Considering today’s date, it’s just as well that Bertie didn’t make the announcment yesterday…

Various sources have covered this, including Jazz Biscuit, The Chancer, Mulley, and of course the normal media sources such as RTÉ, so why am I mentioning it?

Well, as with any “shocking” political stories, there are, of course, a few interesting quotes thrown up. I’m not sure how ‘accurate’ exactly the title of this post entry is, but I liked the alliteration, and yes - some of Bertie’s supporters have said some silly things today. While RTÉ’s Brian “Dobbo” Dobson and, in particular, Charlie Bird can’t seem to stop saying the phrase “political bombshell” (- indeed, as Mulley suggested, it could be turned into an early afternoon drinking game!), there are a few others out there playing the foot-in-mouth game.

While Fine Gael TD’s have been coming out with the predictable “This government have been in power too long [...] They’re not able for the job any more and it’s time for a change”, Bertie himself, flanked by his entire cabinet, said: “I know in my heart of hearts that I have done no wrong and wronged no one.” … What about (allegedly) lying on national TV? Isn’t that “doing wrong”? He also said this decision was “a purely personal one” and wasn’t as a result of “recent” events in the tribunal… which is a little difficult to believe. Granted it might not be solely as a result of the recent events, but surely they could constitute the “final straw”?

Some other soundbytes from this morning/afternoon include Patricia McKenna of the Green Party saying “I think this is a very good decision from the point of view of the Green Party” and “I personally wondered how we were going to get through our National Convention in a few weeks time with the issue of Bertie still there”.

The biggest vocal cock-up I saw was from Dublin-based Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kennedy, who incredibly said “We have 2 million people employed now where, when he came into office, we had 2 million people on the dole.” - how impossible and unlikely a statistic is that… really!?

Mr Kennedy also said: “Most of this problem was driven by the media,” and that “the ordinary person on the ground knows that Bertie Ahern is not a corrupt person”.

Fianna Fáil TD Noel Ahern, said he was told of the impending resignation last night and that he was “very very proud” of his younger brother who was, in the past week or so, “more down than he normally would be”. He also said, “I’m glad that he’s making this decision for himself and he’s not being pushed“ and that “anything [Bertie] ever earned was ploughed back into his election operation” (?).

Brian Lenihan, Fianna Fáil TD said: “The Taoiseach had always made it clear that he would resign some time in the life of this government” and that he believed “that the Taoiseach will establish his integrity with relation to the tribunal matters”, saying that “the tribunal has actually wronged him in this respect”.

Margaret Conlon, Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan/Monaghan towed the party line, saying “On the corridors of Leinster House, the Parliamentary Party were all united behind the Taoiseach” and “I still do not agree with how he was tried by the media” and they “were able to make a judgement without all the evidence being heard”.

So the usual Fianna Fáil line is coming out. “Bertie was great for Ireland”… “It’s all the media’s fault”… “The tribunal is a personal issue for him”… “Leave him alone”. Sorry folks, but if you’re in public office - especially in a position as high as Taoiseach - you’re in the public eye - and so you should be! Therefore the media will be only right to hound you constantly, make sure you’re doing your job right and expose you in the cruellest possible way if you’re not.

Get used to it or get out. Bertie did.