Ireland must shed victim baggage to be role model for new states

IRELAND has taken on the role of head boy to the new member states — being there to welcome them when they join the EU on May 1, identifying with them, offering support and encouragement and holding itself up as an example of what membership can do.

But like every head boy, there are signs that we still have some growing up to do ourselves and in some ways the newcomers are being more adult than us.

Two interesting aspects have arisen in recent weeks one cultural and one financial.