News From Ireland
 Cowen Replaces
Ahern as Prime Minister
Brian Cowen has replaced Bertie Ahern as leader of the Fianna Fáil
party. The Laois-Offaly Dáil deputy also assumed the office of
Taoiseach when Ahern stood down on May 6 following his address to the
joint Houses of Congress in Washington, D.C. Ahern’s decision to
vacate his position both as Taoiseach and party leader followed months
of unfavorable publicity arising from the Mahon Tribunal’s investigations
into payments-to-politicians.
Although Ahern maintained he never took inappropriate payments from anybody,
his explanations for a documented series of cash transactions into various
accounts to which he had access became increasingly muddled and unconvincing.
Some commentators perceived that Ahern’s personal secretary, Gráinne
Farrell, was made scapegoat for her failure to adequately explain a number
of sterling currency lodgements to the local bank. In a prepared speech
that caught the media by surprise, the outgoing Taoiseach made a typically
robust defense of his record, blaming “the constant barrage”
of public scrutiny arising from the Mahon Tribunal before saying he felt
it was time for him to make way.
“I have never done anything to corrupt my office,” Ahern told
reporters at Government Buildings. “I know in my heart of hearts
that I have done no wrong and wronged no one.”
History will judge Bertie Ahern as the Dubliner who was Taoiseach for
11 years and cabinet minister for 19 years, the first party leader since
Eamon de Valera to win three terms in office for Fianna Fáil. As
Ireland’s political leader through a decade of momentous political
and
economic change, his critics openly acknowledge his key role in copper
fastening the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. In recent years, however,
he has been plagued by speculation about his personal finances. Although
he insisted he did not quit because of tribunal findings, commentators
suggested he remained in office until he had little option but to resign.
Taoiseach-designate Brian Cowen was named as future leader of Fianna Fáil
when he was returned unopposed by the party. In his first press conference
as leader in waiting, he expressed his appreciation for his new role.
“Today is a proud moment for me, for my wife and my two daughters
– their support has been immense,” he said. “It is also
a proud day for my mother and my wider family. I am excited by the challenge,
if somewhat daunted by the responsibility.
“I am proud of the Fianna Fáil party. We’ll continue
to build the Republic and we’ll strive to build a country strong
and free with decent living standards for all.”
The 48-year-old deputy will vacate his position at the Department of Finance
to take up his position as Taoiseach. His appointment came as no surprise.
Potential candidates for the party leadership saw Cowen in an unassailable
position ever since Bertie Ahern publicly nominated him as a successor.
The incoming Taoiseach will rely on coalition partners in the Progressive
Democrats and Green Party to steer the government clear of a general election
until 2012.
Greens Annoy Chinese
Chinese ambassador to Ireland Liu Biwei walked out of the Green Party
annual conference when party leader John Gormley referred to Tibet as
an independent country. Gormley further urged the Chinese government in
Beijing to enter direct talks with Tibetian spiritual leader the Dalai
Lama.
The Greens are currently in coalition government with Fianna Fáil,
and the ambassador told reporters that such comments were unacceptable
and would “do nothing good” for relations between China and
Ireland.
To many, however, the ambassador’s exit looked like a staged event,
as though he expected to be offended and made his leave almost on cue.
Party delegates at the conference applauded Gormley’s speech, while
cabinet ministers from Fianna Fáil made reassurances that his remarks
would not damage international relations between the two countries.
However, Minister for Sport Seamus Brennan subsequently added to the controversy
by saying the Irish government would consider a boycott of the opening
ceremony at the Beijing Olympics. “The time between now and the
opening ceremony will be used to remind the Chinese and the Tibetans that
there is still time to show an improvement in their human rights issue
and to call on them to show those improvements,” he said. “Assuming
that they show improvements, there is no reason why we can’t attend
the opening ceremonies. On the other hand, if those human rights issues
were to deteriorate I think we should again consider our attendance.”
Internet Error Embarrasses Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus, Ireland’s national airline, landed in hot water over
a consumer rights issue. A misprint on the airline’s Internet ticket
sales site offered transatlantic business class seats for a paltry 5 euros
each. The normal price for these one-way reservations is 1,775 euros,
and some 300 consumers made bookings after spotting the bargain of a lifetime.
On discovering the error, Aer Lingus blamed a technical error and attempted
to cancel all reservations made for the giveaway price. However, the National
Consumer Agency took the position that the company should honor the cheap
bookings. “Blaming a technical error in their booking system is
not good enough,” said agency chief executive Anne Fitzgerald. “Aer
Lingus formed a contract with the consumer at the stated fare and cannot
simply walk away from its obligations.”
In the face of widespread criticism, Aer Lingus finally reversed its stand
and said it would honor the purchased tickets. The only condition is that
the 5-euro passengers will travel economy class instead of business class.
“Hands up, we handled it badly,” admitted commercial manager
Enda Corneille, who promised an internal investigation into how an error
which will cost the airline about 175,000 euros was allowed to occur.
Further Cuts At Dell’s Irish Plants
Computer giant Dell will shed 250 jobs at its plants in Dublin and Limerick,
the company announced. Dell currently employs about 4,500 people in Ireland,
and its assembly plant in Limerick is one of the biggest manufacturing
operations in the country.
The announcement of job losses has added to growing concern that Ireland
is falling behind competitors in Eastern Europe, China and India and taking
a direct hit for the international economic slowdown.
“With ten years of unprecedented economic growth, Ireland should
have been in the perfect position to weather the global economic downturn,”
said Fine Gael spokesman on Labour Affairs. “Instead, the country
and the economy are now paying the price for Fianna Fáil’s
over-dependence on the construction industry, and its determination to
fuel the debt-driven housing boom," he added.
The measures are part of global cost-cutting by Dell. The company has
targeted almost 10,000 jobs worldwide, aiming to reduce annual costs by
$3 billion by 2011.
Tipperary Teenagers Become Millionaires
Two teenage brothers from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary became millionaires when
they sold their computer software company to a Canadian interest. The
Collison brothers, Patrick (19) and John (17), made headlines when they
sold their company to Live Current Media for $5 million.
When the teenagers set up a web-based software company in Limerick last
year, they applied to Enterprise Ireland for additional funding. However,
they were discouraged by the terms offered by the state entrepreneurial
agency and looked instead for investors in California. An incubator company
called Y Combinator showed strong interest, invested in the company and
merged with a fledgling UK company to launch Auctomatic last summer. The
company specializes in Internet systems for customers who are heavy users
of E-Bay’s hugely successful auction site.
Auctomatic gained immediate attention in the cyber market and was bought
out by Live Current Media in the face of strong competition. In the deal
finalized between the new partners, Patrick Collison will join the Canadian
firm as a director of the engineering department. John Collison, who has
yet to finish his secondary schooling, will take up employment with the
new owners after his Leaving Certificate exams at the end of the summer.
Live Current Media had a turnover of $8.4 million in its 2006 financial
year and has a market capitalization of $57.69 million.
The Collisons’ achievement was celebrated locally as a remarkable
success story. Their parents Denis and Lily once ran the Dromineer Bay
Hotel beside Lough Derg before the family moved to Limerick. Both brothers
attended Castletroy College, and Patrick caught industry attention by
winning the prestigious BT Young Scientist of the Year award in 2005.
He went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. With
their latest venture already turning a very handsome profit, the Collison
brothers have made an impression on the international software market.
Their success has also embarrassed Enterprise Ireland for allowing such
a dynamic and lucrative partnership to slip through its fingers.
Gas Pipeline Controversy Continues
Residents expressed mixed reactions to the revised route for a gas pipeline
in north Co. Mayo. The controversial Shell E&P Ireland project to
bring ashore gas from the Corrib field in the Atlantic Ocean via an onshore
pipeline that runs through rural townlands has become bogged down in finding
an agreed location for the pipeline.
Under proposals by Shell E&P Ireland, gas would be taken ashore near
Rossport and piped through Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to a terminal
near Ballinaboy, about eight miles away. Following strong objections from
residents and community groups in the area, the company revised the route
of the pipeline. For safety reasons it is proposed to withdraw the pipeline
further from occupied housing, although the construction will still run
through a bogland listed as an SAC.
Shell E&P Ireland managing director Andy Pyle said that the terminal
at Ballinaboy is now one-third way constructed. “We have made every
reasonable effort to address the concerns expressed by local people,”
he said.
However, the proposal was not endorsed by local residents. “We do
not give our consent to this and will resist it through every legal, political
and campaigning means open to us even though this could lead to more years
of unnecessary conflict,” countered John Monaghan, spokesman for
the Shell to Sea group which favors the gas terminal being constructed
offshore.
The revised pipeline route will be examined and discussed with state planning
authorities, although the controversial project involves so many diverse
interests that three government ministers – at Energy, Agriculture
and Fisheries – must also approve the new route before it can proceed.
Gardai to Remain Unarmed
The Garda Síochána (Irish police force) will remain an
unarmed force, insisted Commissioner Fachtna Murphy. Responding to calls
from the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association (GRA),
Murphy was adamant that uniformed gardai would not carry arms.
“I’m committed to maintaining a uniformed, unarmed presence
on our streets, in our cities, in our towns,” said the garda boss.
“The first commissioner spoke about how the Garda Síochána
will get their authority not from force of arms or numbers but from the
will of the people. I, as the 18th Commissioner, am committed to the same
ideals.”
Most delegates at the GRA conference in Tullow, Co. Carlow supported the
commisioner’s stance but expressed concern at the proliferation
of weapons among criminals, particularly among drug gangs in Dublin and
Limerick. Last year an unarmed motorcycle garda, Paul Sherlock, was shot
by armed raiders when he intercepted a hold-up on a post office in Dublin’s
northside. Sherlock, 34, was shot at close range but survived his injuries.
Almost 3,500 gardai carry weapons – making up about one quarter
of the force. Many garda operations are backed up by armed members of
the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).
State Funeral for Former President
Dr. Patrick Hillery, former President of Ireland, was given a full state
funeral on April 16 following his death on April 12. The 84-year-old statesman
from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare came through the Fianna Fáil ranks
and served four separate ministries before he was appointed President
of Ireland in 1976 and served two terms until 1990.
Son of a doctor, Dr. Hillery was also a chief negotiator when Ireland
joined the European Economic Community (now the European Union). Following
membership, he became Ireland’s first European Commissioner before
taking up the presidential office in Áras an Úachtarainn
(the presidential residence in Phoenix Park).
Known more familiarly as “Paddy,” he was regarded as a reserved
figure and was warmly remembered by friends and colleagues in political
circles. Books of condolence were opened around the country, and following
a full-scale military cortege through the capital he was interred in St.
Fintan’s Cemetery on Dublin’s northside. |
