Ahern a bad example to youth, says ASTI chief
Describing him as a “bit of lad” who was “fond of the birds and the beer”, Pat Cahill said the Taoiseach was a poor role model for young people.
“He seems to be at the opening of every pub in Dublin,” said Mr Cahill, commenting in the wake of the annual Junior Cert drunken sprees. “What kind of example is that to young people?”
Mr Cahill, a father of four, said his criticism of Bertie Ahern was not personal, but he urged the Taoiseach to recognise the effect his activities have on the youth of Ireland.
A government spokesman said the Taoiseach was “made aware of the remarks but he doesn’t wish to comment”.
However, Mr Cahill insisted: “Somebody has to say something about it. I am not anti-Bertie but I am saying that being a role model is important. I think Bertie should get away from opening pubs and associating himself with the drink culture. Evidence of that culture is everywhere. Every year you see kids in Junior Cert classes in every town drunk out of their heads and that has become more commonplace in the past few years.
“Bertie isn’t the only one giving a bad example, but moral leadership is required and we need someone at the top to take a stand and not just be cool.”
Mr Cahill said the laddish culture had caused major difficulties. “Why is it that girls still do better than boys in exams? Is it because girls are more intelligent or are boys less mature? We have the worst teenage drink problem in Europe. There has to be other things for young people to do besides drink and drugs and Bertie should give a lead in that.”
Speaking on the Marion Finucane radio programme, Mr Cahill said the Taoiseach had not given much leadership to young people.
He also spoke of the Taoiseach as being “fond of the birds”, but said later that, on reflection, he regretted making that remark. “That’s his personal life. But I was saying it in the context of this laddish culture we have.”
Mr Cahill lamented the fact that we did not appear to have role models with the ideals of our founding fathers and past heroes such as Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera, as well as selfless individuals like the late Bishop Lamont who had devoted his life to Africa.
“We need people with idealism. We used to look up to those men who had an idea of voluntarism and, as the Special Olympics showed, that kind of idealism is still there to be tapped,” he said.
