Irish Won’t Vote

Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern was characteristically blunt during his visit to New York when asked about the prospects of Ireland still holding a vote to ratify the European Union constitution.

Ahern, in so many words, said that it was highly unlikely that it would occur given the heavy defeat for the constitution in France and Holland. Despite the fact that other Irish government leaders were saying that a vote would still proceed, Ahern left no doubt that the issue was dead.

Thus will end one of the most remarkable Irish initiatives in European Union history. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern almost single-handedly piloted the constitutional document past the European leaders when Ireland held the presidency of Europe for six months last year.

It was looked on as Ahern’s enduring legacy on European affairs, and he did such an amazing job that he was briefly talked about as a candidate for the top job in Europe as head of the European Union Commission.

Alas, it was not to be and with his dreams of a new European constitution in tatters, it is back to the drawing board for Ahern and the Irish government. At least the foreign minister is facing up to the reality of the situation.

King’s Job

Congressman Pete King is in line for the chairmanship of the new Homeland Security committee in the House of Representatives, a job which would make the Long Island representative one of the most powerful men in Congress.

Though King is only number five in seniority of those who could get the job, the New York Post reported last week that various other considerations will likely mean that the four men in front of him will likely not take the position.

If King gets the job it will be a powerful boost to his political career. It will also mean that he will be able to dispense huge amounts of Homeland Security money to New York state where it is badly needed.

The petty politicization of Homeland Security funds, which has seen vast amounts go as pork to states like Wyoming where the threat of a terror attack is minimal, has angered many New Yorkers.

King has a well-deserved reputation as a maverick, especially when you consider that he backed Senator John McCain against George W. Bush and voted against the Clinton impeachment, one of only five GOP house members to do so.

In recent times, however, King has become a dedicated supporter of President Bush and the relationship between the two men has become very cordial.

Homeland Security would be a great springboard for the Nassau County Republican to up his visibility in the GOP. It will be interesting to see if he gets the position.

Mayoral Politics

It’s New York City mayoral election time again, and the candidates will soon be showing up at every Irish festival close to you to burnish their credentials with a key ethnic group.

While the Irish no longer provide candidates for mayor, or have hopes of electing one of their own, they have become  a key swing vote in the election and no doubt there will be much courting of their support, especially in the outer boroughs.

Incumbent Mike Bloomberg has a head start with his close relationship with radio host Adrian Flannelly, who has ensured that Bloomberg is a familiar figure at dozens of Irish events every year.

Five years ago Flannelly backed the then obscure outsider Bloomberg, a bet that has paid off in spades for Flannelly as he has become a valued confidante.

On the Democratic side, a number of the candidates are well known to Irish organizations. Ironically Freddie Ferrer’s biggest backer is lawyer Brian O’ Dwyer — who happens to be Flannelly’s first cousin. This might set up an interesting family dynamic if the two candidates were to face off against each other.

Of the other candidates, Gifford Miller incensed many Irish bar owners by enthusiastically pushing the smoking ban, while Manhattan Borough President Virginia Fields remains very much an unknown quantity.

Congressman Anthony Weiner has a good track record on Irish issues, and many feel he would be the most formidable candidate against Bloomberg if he made it out of the primaries. That, of course, remains to be seen.

Crowley for 2009?

Come to think of it, there would be one formidable Irish candidate for mayor if he ever decided to seek election to City Hall. That would be Queens Congressman Joe Crowley, who has the perfect credentials to make a run at some point.

Currently Crowley is busy climbing the slippery pole in Congress and is well liked by Democratic leaders there. However, if his ambition is blocked in Washington, he could well be a candidate in New York in the future.

He would fare very well. He is a product of the Queens political machine controlled by his mentor Tom Manton who remains very powerful in local politics, and Crowley would have a major head start.

Given the fact that Bloomberg seems odds-on to be elected, a run by Crowley in four years or so, when he will be in his mid 40s, may not be all that far fetched.

Death of The ‘Press’

Those of you who remember the old Irish Press newspaper in Ireland will devour an excellent volume on the sad history of the newspaper which has just been published.

For those who don’t know, the Irish Press was founded by Eamon de Valera on funds he received from Irish Americans during his visits here in the 1920s. Though the money was supposed to be for running the country, de Valera instead put it into starting his own newspaper which remained in his family during its lifetime.

The newspaper folded in 1995 amid bitter recrimination American shareholders were left utterly in the dark, while the management team of de Valera’s grandson, also Eamon, and a businessman named Vincent Jennings was widely castigated for folding the newspaper.

The book called Press Delete by former Irish Press journalist Ray Burke is a fascinating insight into the life and death of an Irish institution. It is available from Currach Press at www.currachpress.ie.