Watch this space for new generation of DUP leaders

Most people will have found Ian Paisley’s personalised attack on Brian Cowen this week as offensive. In many ways we can’t claim to be shocked. Paisley has been known for outburst likes these for nearly four decades.

There has been a tendency in the Republic to caricature Paisley, to parody him and, in some instances, to be dismissive of him. Mind you, Ian Paisley at times makes himself easy to caricature. He manages to be a parody of himself. His fire and brimstone political oratory contributes to our distorted perception of him. Paisley also heads up a private church, the Free Presbyterian Church (which has branches in Northern Ireland, the USA and Canada as well as missions in the Republic and five other countries). This also makes Paisley a peculiarity to audiences in the Republic.

Many will remember when Paisley was rugby-tackled by fellow MEPs when he rose to scream and shout at Pope John Paul II on an occasion when the pontiff was addressing a session of the European Parliament some years ago. Paisley has often attacked British politicians; he was particularly offensive to Mo Mowlam when she was Northern Ireland Secretary. He has also has regularly lashed out in colourful and offensive tones at Unionist politicians who he feels have sold out Ulster.