Bertie’s little red book bridges gap between Mao and Mussolini

MARY HARNEY often ponders whether Ireland is closer to Boston or Berlin, but Bertie Ahern is now looking to Beijing.

In the wake of Fianna Fáil’s disastrous election performance, the Taoiseach yesterday dispatched a delegation of his party’s finest to China.

Led by Government Chief Whip, Mao-ry Hanafin, the Fianna Fáil group is visiting at the invitation of the CPC - the Communist Party of China.

The trip typifies the unquestionable catch-all nature of Fianna Fáil’s politics.

For while a gaggle of FFers headed off to meet the Communists in China, on the same day the party’s MEPs joined forces again with the far right and anti-immigrant extremists in the tiny Union for a Europe of Nations group in the European Parliament.

Brian Crowley will share the position of the President of the UEN with Cristiana Muscardini, a member of Italy’s Alleanza Nazionale; the party led by Gianfranco Fini - a onetime admirer of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

Similar to Fianna Fáil’s real vision of this country, the Chinese Communists operate from the premise of a single party state, but that’s not all the Soldiers of Destiny have in common with CPC:

Both parties were founded in the 1920s and fought in the civil war.

Both parties were headed for the best part of 50 years by one figure - Eamonn De Valera and Mao Zedong respectively.

Both parties dominate the government.

Both are authoritarian in structure and ideology.

Ahead of her departure on the 11-day visit, Chairman Mao-ry described the trip as an excellent opportunity for the party to strengthen links with China, which have grown increasingly closer since the official visit of the Taoiseach in 1998.

“Political, economic and educational ties between Ireland and China have grown immensely in recent years. China is the world’s most populous country, one which is rich in history and culture and is undergoing phenomenal economic and political change,” Ms Hanafin said.

The delegation will travel to Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and X’ian and visit the National Committee of Development and Reform, the Ministry of Justice, the Research Institute on Human Rights and the Taiwan office.

Ms Hanafin added that the delegation looks forward to a friendly and open exchange of views.

Worryingly for any revolting Fianna Fáil backbenchers, the Chinese have a unique way of dealing with dissidents, so the Taoiseach’s envoys may pick up some tips.

And FF councillors will be concerned that the Chinese don’t bother with planning permission applications or objections, thereby doing away with the necessity for brown envelopes.