Will Bertie write a new chapter on patriotism?

THE Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and the Minister for Finance have called on us all to be “patriotic” and to support Irish business in the current economic climate.

I wonder will they call on their former leader Bertie Ahern to do likewise?

Mr Ahern, a self-proclaimed patriot and man of the people, is reported to be in talks with Cornerstone Publishing — a US company based in Indiana — to publish his memoirs in a deal worth €400,000, about 12 times more than an average working person would earn in a year.

His decision to choose a foreign publisher was undoubtedly based on the fact that they could afford to pay him vastly more than any Irish publisher could even dream of. In other words, personal financial gain trumped patriotism, hands down.

Loyalty to Irish business is obviously something which only us little people are expected to show.

Barry Walsh

Brooklawn

Clontarf

Dublin 3