Still standing
IT was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but Bertie Ahern is still standing after the political whirlwind of 2007.
The highs were truly historic, helping usher-in power sharing to the North and leading Fianna Fáil to a three-in-a-row victory at the polls.
The lows were truly embarrassing, such as the six fractious days squirming in the Mahon corruption probe’s witness box as lawyers for the tribunal did their best to demolish his “dig-out” explanation for the various unusual amounts of money appearing in his accounts while Minister for Finance in the 1990s.
The 40% of the electorate who gave Mr Ahern the benefit of the doubt in May stuck with him through his tortuous stint at Dublin Castle in September.
It was only as a tightening economy collided headlong with what many saw as lavish ministerial pay awards that support began to plunge.
Mr Ahern defiantly refuses to see the cabinet’s approval of his €38,000 a year pay rise, and similar surges for other ministers, as an own goal, even still believing the whole thing has been blown out of proportion.
“The cost of the pay increases for ministers is very modest relative to overall public spending and the annual cost during the years of phased implementation is proportionately more modest still. The Government’s primary purpose in deciding to defer and then extend the implementation of the recommendations of the independent review body was to provide a measure of leadership in the light of the more challenging circumstances in which we now find ourselves and, in particular, to remove the risk that an extraneous issue could impact negatively on the forthcoming pay negotiations. We have also taken into account of the public comment on the issue,” he said.
As for the other great political soap opera of the year’s end — claims in a book-turned-RTÉ documentary that a serving minister privately admitted to being a regular cocaine user — Mr Ahern ridicules the notion.
“I can honestly say that it is not something which I have raised with my ministerial colleagues, as I have no doubts on the matter. I think that there have been a lot of question marks left over the programme which initially made the allegations on this matter, many of which have not yet been substantiated. In addition to my belief that no one at Cabinet is using cocaine, I think the suggestion that any minister would divulge such information to a stranger in Buswells is fairly unlikely. There is no doubt that the use of cocaine is a major concern for Irish society. As Taoiseach, along with people like Pat Carey, Eamon Ó Cuív and Brian Lenihan, I want to alert people to the very obvious dangers of cocaine and make abusers of this lethal drug recognise the criminal gangs which are thriving due to their cocaine habits,” the Taoiseach said.
With the shadow of the Mahon inquiry rarely far from the Taoiseach as he completed a full decade in power, Fianna Fáil has been increasingly focused on life after Bertie.
Brian Cowen’s aura of crown prince was formalised after the election when Mr Ahern formally backed the finance minister, much to the annoyance of other possible contenders like Dermot Ahern and Brian Lenihan.
“I was asked my opinion on the future leadership of Fianna Fáil and I gave it. It was my personal opinion, but I also said that ultimately it is a matter for the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party. We have a very strong Minister for Finance and Tánaiste in Brian Cowen.
“I think people see him for what he is — a straight talker, who says what he means and means what he says. He is a responsible and forward-thinking Minister for Finance, which is exactly what this country needs right now.
“There are many talented people in the Fianna Fáil party but the future leadership is not something that any one individual should be charged with, it’s a matter for the collective parliamentary party membership,” he said.
“I’ve set out a clear timetable. I always said I would step down when I was 60 and that it would be time for a younger man or woman to do the job at that stage. Everybody knows that that’s my plan. There was never any secret about it. I put these cards on the table at the election and that’s what I got a mandate for,” declares the Taoiseach, who turns 60 in September 2011, insisting, that unlike Tony Blair, he will keep control of his desired timetable.
However, those plans could still be derailed by events beyond his control, which he knows could suddenly erupt form the bowels of Dublin Castle at any moment.
Mr Ahern admits it was painful to see his family’s private affairs picked over in the way they have been.
“It is hurtful to see my family and friends have their private affairs aired publicly solely because they are associated with me. It was frustrating and painful to me and my loved ones to have information sensitive to our family thrown into an election campaign, and also leaked in September 2006. But I’ve been encouraged by so many people in all walks of life who tell me they are disgusted by what has happened,” he said.
His charitable attitude to expelled Fianna Fáiler-turned-independent-TD Beverly Flynn may best be understood in light of his Mahon experiences.
He sees no need for her to apologise for any wrongdoing in the past, despite losing her marathon libel battle with RTÉ over reports she aided people to evade tax while working in banking.
“It has always been my view that we cannot spend all our time condemning people for the past, we have to move on and make progress on issues.
“Regarding corporate wrongdoing, perhaps the focus of attention in this respect should be on the financial institutions who promoted and presided over such practices. I know there have been many changes in recent years and this is to be welcomed. I have taken tough action in the past in relation to Beverly Flynn; she is now attempting to deal with her affairs correctly. When that process is complete we will look at the situation again from a party perspective,” he said.
Mr Ahern is due back in the witness box at Dublin Castle in February before travelling to Washington DC to become only the fifth person to address both Westminster and Congress.
Hold on tight, 2008 is going to be another roller-coaster ride for the Taoiseach.
