Let’s stop booing Bertie, but make him put his house in order instead

THOUGH it’s not my main business of the week, I want to start by saying that the booing of Bertie Ahern should stop.

I don't believe it's compulsory on all of us to welcome the Taoiseach with rapturous applause wherever he goes and he does go to far too many events. But I do think it is essential that our elected Taoiseach should be treated with respect and courtesy. And incidentally, he should be entitled to privacy in respect of his personal life as well.

That may sound a bit odd coming from me. I don't support the present Taoiseach, and I look forward to the day when he and his party are democratically booted from office. His government is mean-spirited and petty in relation to a wide range of important issues. But he is the Taoiseach we elected by a clear majority. Whether abroad or at home, he is our representative. When we boo him we boo ourselves. He and his office are entitled to respect because this is a democracy.