Ahern takes a swan dive

national | politics / elections | opinion/analysis

Sunday May 06, 2007 15:18

by Seán Ryan

The government is in a shambles. McDowell is ducking and diving. Tis the most interesting election ever in the emerald isle.

After having crisis talks yesterday, Michael McDowell has emerged today and called on Bertie Ahern to give a full disclosure of his financial irregularities dating back to the 90's. Some of thes irregularities would include: clarification as to whether Bertie used money intended for FF for his own benefit, details about the house purchase, more details on the Manchester money, a house purchase and a certain ammount of cash that equals $45,000.

McDowell has played the injured party ploy and has said that the details he'd received with regard to Ahern's finances were incomplete and selective. One must conclude that this is McDowell's excuse for keeping himself and Ahern in government when the scandal first broke, despite the promise to keep FF honest.

The opposition parties have finally found some backbone, what with the blood spurting into the water from the jugular of Mr. Ahern. Most are using the opportunity to cull the PD's too.

Eventhough the proverbial caca has hit the proverbial fan, the PD's have not tendered their resignations. This opens up the nightmare scenario, whereby, should Mr. Ahern resign (and it looks like he will), McDowell will be the acting Taoiseach.

Our president (un)elect(ed) has still to find her way back to the country. It will be interesting to guage her reaction to all of this. We could possibly be in the middle of a Constitutional crisis. The Dáil has been dissolved afterall and effectivelly this crisis hits right in the middle of a grey area within Bunreacht.

For me the most interesting question lies in FF's election campaign. Are they scuppered?

What will happen to all those expensive posters? The ones with "Bertie's Team" in the top right hand corner like a badge of honour.

Does this mean that Enda Kenny will be elected Taoiseach by default?

A lot can and must happen in the next few weeks.

Methinks parties on the left will benefit most by this GUBU set of events. Especially the Independants on the left.

The public might recognise the value of integrity and purpose. Folks of the ilk of Joan Collins could be in their ascendancy.