We must not act like Bush’s leprechaun

WE used to say, from an economic point of view, that when Britain sneezed Ireland caught cold. Now it seems that when the USA intones a wish, we fall prostrate before it.

President George W Bush’s forthcoming visit is purely about economics and political advantage. So let’s not fool ourselves with talk about maintaining traditional Irish-American links of friendship, or anything of the sort.

During the visit, we are possibly going to see a charade of smiles and handshakes suggesting we’re all going along the right road of progress, security, etc.