Labour leader has advice for all but his own

THE Labour leader, Pat Rabbitte, has criticised the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, over his failure to state clearly whether to set out the legal underpinning for the electronic voting.

Mr Rabbitte pointed out the Independent Commission would only be a couple of weeks away from the local and European elections.

Pat Rabbitte accused the Taoiseach of talking too much.

And all this from the proverbial jack-in-the-box of Irish politics who has advice for all but his own party on how it might haul itself out of the political doldrums.

Claiming that the Taoiseach habitually engaged in obfuscation and ambivalence, Mr Rabbitte said the public did not know what Mr Ahern was saying when he undertook doorstep interviews before his public engagements.

The renaissance man Rabbitte and his last chance at glory reminds me of the time spent by Mr Rabbitte creating an image for himself lest others would forget who he really is.

Michael J Stokes PC

2 Willington Green

Templeogue

Dublin 6W