Bertie can still redeem himself

AMAZINGLY Bertie Ahern still raises his head and his voice over the parapet in pathetic attempts to exonerate himself for his failures of leadership which has landed this country in ruin for at least a generation.

If he wants to redeem his name, and it is never to late, let him do the decent thing now and set a new benchmark for others in public life to follow.

Let him start by cancelling the expenses claim for €9,500, which he recently submitted to the Dáil accounts office. This would be his “call out” charge for showing his face in Dáil Eireann before he ever utters a word or does a stroke of work.

Next he might hand back the state car and transfer the chauffeur he obviously feels he needs to his own payroll.

This is the only way he can forever break the link between his name and the political culture of patronage, profiteering and profligacy which reached its apogee during his tenures of office.

If he does not do this and more, then at least his periodic popping up between the political ramparts is a reminder that the era of parasite politicians along with their banker friends who burgled the country is consigned to history.

Let us hope.

Margaret Hickey

Castleowen

Blarney

Co Cork