From Shannon to the Sahara, Irish EU presidency was a job well done

IN Irish diplomatic circles there has been some talk in recent weeks about a phenomenon known as Post-Presidency Depression Syndrome.

Apparently this is the nickname given to a mixture of physical and mental exhaustion that hits public servants and politicians after their country's presidency of the European Union comes to an end. It combines relief with exhaustion and even includes symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder.

From midnight last night the presidency of the European Union became the responsibility of the Dutch. The staff of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (both at home and abroad), and the European policy sections of the other Government departments will now face their own bout of Post-Presidency Syndrome.