There are no air traffic services at Dublin Airport between 11.30 p.m. on Saturday, February 16th and 6.30 a.m. on Sunday, February 17th due to the ongoing dispute between air traffic controllers and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). Thanks be to God! This is good news, and if the argument continues, we might reduce the number of flights even further. The Irish environment and the planet would be grateful.
In a statement the IAA said it expects that nine flights in and out of Dublin Airport will be affected by the dispute. However, there could be a knock-on effect to flights early in the morning as the schedule returns to normal. This latest disruption at Dublin Airport is because it cannot get anyone to fill in for an air traffic controller who has called in sick.
One overnight arrival and five early morning departures at Cork Airport were also delayed as a result of the dispute.
The IAA said last night's disruption - the second at the airport in 48 hours - was also because workers refused to cover the shift of a colleague who had called in sick.
If it were not such a sad show by the IAA, one could laugh out loud and see this as a joke. The whole airport of the capital city of an EU country - which also is supposed to be the second-richest country in the world - is coming to a standstill because one man calls in sick. Brilliant!
Someone should nominate the IAA for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award!
Maybe the IAA should close Dublin Airport, which hardly ever works "normal", even without a strike of the air traffic controllers, altogether and turn it into a huge golf course. This would be very popular with Ireland's many golfers, and it would at the same time drastically reduce emissions and pollution, as well as our carbon footprint. The air traffic controllers could be employed as caddies, and Fáilte Ireland could collect the membership fee. Welcome to Baile Átha Golf!
The Emerald Islander
17 February 2008
15 February 2008
Two separate Shows at Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle, originally built under the orders of Prince John as a Norman stronghold and later used for centuries as the HQ of power and oppression on this island, is now popular for various reasons. While tourists from all over the world come to visit it and learn of its history, our own interest in the venue is of a different kind. The Castle has long been - among many other duties - the home for our so dearly cherished tribunals and meeting place for the great and good of the Republic. Today the ancient building was particularly busy.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern (left) arrived this morning for a meeting of the Social Partners and said that Ireland would have "to maintain and improve competitiveness", or the economy would be in trouble. He warned that "expectations for the pay talks will have to be realistic". This is of course the same Bertie Ahern who only recently - regardless of expected economic trouble - awarded himself a pay rise of € 38,000 per annum, thus becoming the highest paid political leader in the world. He also rewarded his ministers handsomely, with increases of € 25,000 per annum on average.
These increases in payments for leading politicians are more than many Irish people earn in a whole year!
Today's meeting was concerned with launching a mid-term review of the current national agreement, Towards 2016. With the existing agreement on private sector pay due to expire next month, and the public sector in September, pay is a major part of that review.
The Taoiseach said two new pieces of legislation in this area would be published soon, and he hoped this would "reassure people".
IBEC Director General Turlough O'Sullivan insisted that a new pay deal would have to take account of "the difficult economic situation facing many companies".
But there are other issues, too. Many trade unions have expressed serious concerns about worker protection, and in particular the enforcement of the minimum wage.
SIPTU General President Jack O'Connor (right) warned that his union would not even enter the new round of talks unless issues of worker protection and agency workers were addressed. In the fast changing world of the Irish economy in the past-boom era, with hundreds of thousands of foreign workers in the country and age discrimination against job seekers above the age of 45 prevalent, SIPTU will be the hope of many working people in Ireland.
The Conference of Religious in Ireland (yes, there are still some left) criticised the government for "not giving enough attention to social policy, particularly in primary health care, adult literacy and supporting carers". It is a pity that the same religious people were not so concerned about these matters in the past, when they were the dominating force in Ireland's hospitals, schools and other social institutions. But - better late than never.
Meanwhile, in another part of Dublin Castle, broadcaster and sports pundit Eamon Dunphy (left) testified he was told that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was "taken care of" to support a shopping centre develop- ment in the 1990s.
Dunphy told the Mahon Tribunal he could not say where or exactly when the conversation with developer Owen O'Callaghan took place, but he thinks it was in Dublin, between 1997 and 1998, when the two men were involved in a project to bring Wimbledon FC to Dublin.
He stated that Mr. O'Callaghan referred to his Golden Island Shopping Centre development in Athlone and told him that the then Minister for Finance, Bertie Ahern, "was taken care of to support tax designation for the site", but did not deliver on the deal.
Dunphy said he took this to mean that Mr. Ahern received a bribe. The conversation with Owen O'Callaghan was confidential and he was not wearing his journalist hat at the time.
The former footballer added that he had not questioned the Taoiseach's integrity, specifically during an appearance on the Late Late Show before last year's general election. He said he did not think the allegation was "particularly striking in the overall scheme of things".
In a separate statement, the Taoiseach denied Fine Gael claims that his legal challenge to the Mahon Tribunal will delay its work for up to six months. Mr. Ahern told reporters that the tribunal has been going on now for 11 years and he did not think he had caused it any delay. He said he was ready to give evidence to the tribunal next week, as scheduled. What ever happens then, one thing is certain: More lawyers will make even more money, with a delay or without.
The Emerald Islander
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern (left) arrived this morning for a meeting of the Social Partners and said that Ireland would have "to maintain and improve competitiveness", or the economy would be in trouble. He warned that "expectations for the pay talks will have to be realistic". This is of course the same Bertie Ahern who only recently - regardless of expected economic trouble - awarded himself a pay rise of € 38,000 per annum, thus becoming the highest paid political leader in the world. He also rewarded his ministers handsomely, with increases of € 25,000 per annum on average.These increases in payments for leading politicians are more than many Irish people earn in a whole year!
Today's meeting was concerned with launching a mid-term review of the current national agreement, Towards 2016. With the existing agreement on private sector pay due to expire next month, and the public sector in September, pay is a major part of that review.
The Taoiseach said two new pieces of legislation in this area would be published soon, and he hoped this would "reassure people".
IBEC Director General Turlough O'Sullivan insisted that a new pay deal would have to take account of "the difficult economic situation facing many companies".
But there are other issues, too. Many trade unions have expressed serious concerns about worker protection, and in particular the enforcement of the minimum wage.SIPTU General President Jack O'Connor (right) warned that his union would not even enter the new round of talks unless issues of worker protection and agency workers were addressed. In the fast changing world of the Irish economy in the past-boom era, with hundreds of thousands of foreign workers in the country and age discrimination against job seekers above the age of 45 prevalent, SIPTU will be the hope of many working people in Ireland.
The Conference of Religious in Ireland (yes, there are still some left) criticised the government for "not giving enough attention to social policy, particularly in primary health care, adult literacy and supporting carers". It is a pity that the same religious people were not so concerned about these matters in the past, when they were the dominating force in Ireland's hospitals, schools and other social institutions. But - better late than never.
Meanwhile, in another part of Dublin Castle, broadcaster and sports pundit Eamon Dunphy (left) testified he was told that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was "taken care of" to support a shopping centre develop- ment in the 1990s.Dunphy told the Mahon Tribunal he could not say where or exactly when the conversation with developer Owen O'Callaghan took place, but he thinks it was in Dublin, between 1997 and 1998, when the two men were involved in a project to bring Wimbledon FC to Dublin.
He stated that Mr. O'Callaghan referred to his Golden Island Shopping Centre development in Athlone and told him that the then Minister for Finance, Bertie Ahern, "was taken care of to support tax designation for the site", but did not deliver on the deal.
Dunphy said he took this to mean that Mr. Ahern received a bribe. The conversation with Owen O'Callaghan was confidential and he was not wearing his journalist hat at the time.
The former footballer added that he had not questioned the Taoiseach's integrity, specifically during an appearance on the Late Late Show before last year's general election. He said he did not think the allegation was "particularly striking in the overall scheme of things".
In a separate statement, the Taoiseach denied Fine Gael claims that his legal challenge to the Mahon Tribunal will delay its work for up to six months. Mr. Ahern told reporters that the tribunal has been going on now for 11 years and he did not think he had caused it any delay. He said he was ready to give evidence to the tribunal next week, as scheduled. What ever happens then, one thing is certain: More lawyers will make even more money, with a delay or without.
The Emerald Islander
14 February 2008
Valentine's Day
Today is one of the worst days of the year for me - if not the worst - and I even loathe the thought of it when I see it coming up on the calendar. Nothing wrong as such with February 14th as a day. Here in Ireland it is usually a grey and dull day, given that we are still having cool weather (despite the fact that the Celtic Spring is already two weeks old), so nothing special to expect really.
But what gets my goat is the association February 14th has nowadays with "Love", or what some weird people in the advertisement industry understand by "Love". (They would not really know what love is, since it cannot be measured in financial units or airtime performance impact grades.)
Like most evils of modern times, it all started in the USA, where stationery shops began to produce special cards for "Valentine's Day" around 1850. The official claim goes back to 1847 and a woman called Esther Howland (of Worcester, Massachusetts), but since this was the time when more than a million Irish emigrated to the USA (and many of them landed in Massachusetts) as a result of the terrible potato famine, it is quite possible that we have to take a share in the blame for spreading the Valentine nonsense around the world.
Ever since Irish minds have been polluted by organised Christianity, the stories of saints and miracles were mixed with the natural Celtic tendency to "blarney" and produced an entirely fictional world of its own. So we could very well be co-responsible for "St. Valentine's Day" as we are clearly responsible for "Halloween", another moronic American custom created by Irish immigrants and their misunderstood folklore.
After all, relics of one of the eleven men named Valentine (some of them might have been listed twice) who are recognised by the Catholic Church as martyrs are on display at the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street, Dublin. They were sent there by Pope Gregory XVI and arrived in 1836, shortly after the Catholic Emancipation Act and only a decade before the begin of the great exodus, related to the potato famine. So the Irish who moved to the USA in the 1840s and 1850s would have been well aware and familiar with St. Valentine, whose feast day was February 14th. [In the great Vatican calendar reform of 1969 Valentine was actually removed (together with many other popular names whose authenticity is in doubt) and is therefore no longer a saint of the universal church. However, the use of his name in calendars of local and regional saints is still permitted by the Vatican.]
But how does an - apparently - early third century Christian priest from Rome, of whom we know nothing but his name (if he did actually exist at all) become the secular patron saint of romantic love (a subject the Church tries to avoid like no other) and the excuse for tasteless greeting cards and piles of tacky gifts for the special occasion?
I don't know, and it seems no one really does. Some blame Chaucer, others Shakespeare (since the day is mentioned by Ophelia in "Hamlet"), but no clear evidence can be produced.
There are two cultural links with ancient traditions, one Jewish and one Roman. In Hebrew culture Tu B'Av, the 15th day of the month of Av (usually corresponding with our late August), is the festival of love. In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the boys would be waiting for them. In modern Israel this is still a popular day to pronounce love, propose marriage and give gifts like cards or flowers.
In ancient Rome a three-day feast (of probably pre-Roman origin) known as Lupercalia was always celebrated in mid-February (13th to 15th). The purpose of the festival was to avert evil spirits and purify the city, releasing health and fertility, but without overtones of romance.
As the Catholic Church stole almost all Pagan traditions and feasts and turned them into Christian celebrations, it is quite possible that at some stage the 3rd century Roman priest was linked with the ancient Pagan Lupercalia.
But the real horror of "Valentine's Day" began during the 20th century, and again in the USA. During the times of depression in the 1920s and early 1930s American florists began to promote the giving of flowers as a sign of love on February 14th (probably inspired by the Chicago Valentine's Day Massacre, which created a huge increase of business for the florists, as all seven victims were buried with literally tons of flowers, given as a sign of "respect" which was really fear), while stationery shops and greeting card makers developed a whole range of special cards to accompany the flowers.
Later the chocolate makers jumped onto the band wagon, followed by wine and champaign merchants, hoteliers, travel companies, confectioners, pubs, discos and many other businesses. Meanwhile there is hardly any industry that does not try to make extra money from "Valentine's Day".
Massive advertising campaigns create extra millions for the major brands as well as for the creative agencies, and the collective pressure, applied with increasing ferocity through every medium available in our multi-media culture, drives millions of people to behave completely idiotic and spend large amounts of money "to show their love" to the woman or man of their choice or desire. The moronic custom does not even stop at married couples, and there are meanwhile even women who would feel neglected or insulted if they are not spoiled rotten by their male partner on "Valentine's Day" - all in order to create massive profits for the big multi-national (and mostly US-based) companies who produce all the tacky crap!
Love is about people, and a feeling expressed between people. It does not need a special day - just once a year - because true love is there every day. And it does certainly not need tacky but expensive tokens to proof itself. Lovers feel what they feel for each other all the time, and if they want to give their beloved a present (hopefully a nice and tasteful one), they can do it any time, and with no rules and pressure applied from outside. So if I had the power to change things, the whole charade of "Valentine's Day" is something I would abolish.
The Emerald Islander
(in love, but not a slave of stupid consumerism)
P.S. I just learned that in Saudi Arabia the religious police has this year banned the sale of all goods related to "Valentine's Day", as they are "un-Islamic". I am no fan of this country and have for many years done my best to highlight the massive human rights abuses that happen there. But for once I have to salute the Saudis on doing the right thing.
But what gets my goat is the association February 14th has nowadays with "Love", or what some weird people in the advertisement industry understand by "Love". (They would not really know what love is, since it cannot be measured in financial units or airtime performance impact grades.)
Like most evils of modern times, it all started in the USA, where stationery shops began to produce special cards for "Valentine's Day" around 1850. The official claim goes back to 1847 and a woman called Esther Howland (of Worcester, Massachusetts), but since this was the time when more than a million Irish emigrated to the USA (and many of them landed in Massachusetts) as a result of the terrible potato famine, it is quite possible that we have to take a share in the blame for spreading the Valentine nonsense around the world.
Ever since Irish minds have been polluted by organised Christianity, the stories of saints and miracles were mixed with the natural Celtic tendency to "blarney" and produced an entirely fictional world of its own. So we could very well be co-responsible for "St. Valentine's Day" as we are clearly responsible for "Halloween", another moronic American custom created by Irish immigrants and their misunderstood folklore.
After all, relics of one of the eleven men named Valentine (some of them might have been listed twice) who are recognised by the Catholic Church as martyrs are on display at the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street, Dublin. They were sent there by Pope Gregory XVI and arrived in 1836, shortly after the Catholic Emancipation Act and only a decade before the begin of the great exodus, related to the potato famine. So the Irish who moved to the USA in the 1840s and 1850s would have been well aware and familiar with St. Valentine, whose feast day was February 14th. [In the great Vatican calendar reform of 1969 Valentine was actually removed (together with many other popular names whose authenticity is in doubt) and is therefore no longer a saint of the universal church. However, the use of his name in calendars of local and regional saints is still permitted by the Vatican.]
But how does an - apparently - early third century Christian priest from Rome, of whom we know nothing but his name (if he did actually exist at all) become the secular patron saint of romantic love (a subject the Church tries to avoid like no other) and the excuse for tasteless greeting cards and piles of tacky gifts for the special occasion?
I don't know, and it seems no one really does. Some blame Chaucer, others Shakespeare (since the day is mentioned by Ophelia in "Hamlet"), but no clear evidence can be produced.
There are two cultural links with ancient traditions, one Jewish and one Roman. In Hebrew culture Tu B'Av, the 15th day of the month of Av (usually corresponding with our late August), is the festival of love. In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the boys would be waiting for them. In modern Israel this is still a popular day to pronounce love, propose marriage and give gifts like cards or flowers.
In ancient Rome a three-day feast (of probably pre-Roman origin) known as Lupercalia was always celebrated in mid-February (13th to 15th). The purpose of the festival was to avert evil spirits and purify the city, releasing health and fertility, but without overtones of romance.
As the Catholic Church stole almost all Pagan traditions and feasts and turned them into Christian celebrations, it is quite possible that at some stage the 3rd century Roman priest was linked with the ancient Pagan Lupercalia.
But the real horror of "Valentine's Day" began during the 20th century, and again in the USA. During the times of depression in the 1920s and early 1930s American florists began to promote the giving of flowers as a sign of love on February 14th (probably inspired by the Chicago Valentine's Day Massacre, which created a huge increase of business for the florists, as all seven victims were buried with literally tons of flowers, given as a sign of "respect" which was really fear), while stationery shops and greeting card makers developed a whole range of special cards to accompany the flowers.
Later the chocolate makers jumped onto the band wagon, followed by wine and champaign merchants, hoteliers, travel companies, confectioners, pubs, discos and many other businesses. Meanwhile there is hardly any industry that does not try to make extra money from "Valentine's Day".
Massive advertising campaigns create extra millions for the major brands as well as for the creative agencies, and the collective pressure, applied with increasing ferocity through every medium available in our multi-media culture, drives millions of people to behave completely idiotic and spend large amounts of money "to show their love" to the woman or man of their choice or desire. The moronic custom does not even stop at married couples, and there are meanwhile even women who would feel neglected or insulted if they are not spoiled rotten by their male partner on "Valentine's Day" - all in order to create massive profits for the big multi-national (and mostly US-based) companies who produce all the tacky crap!
Love is about people, and a feeling expressed between people. It does not need a special day - just once a year - because true love is there every day. And it does certainly not need tacky but expensive tokens to proof itself. Lovers feel what they feel for each other all the time, and if they want to give their beloved a present (hopefully a nice and tasteful one), they can do it any time, and with no rules and pressure applied from outside. So if I had the power to change things, the whole charade of "Valentine's Day" is something I would abolish.
The Emerald Islander
(in love, but not a slave of stupid consumerism)
P.S. I just learned that in Saudi Arabia the religious police has this year banned the sale of all goods related to "Valentine's Day", as they are "un-Islamic". I am no fan of this country and have for many years done my best to highlight the massive human rights abuses that happen there. But for once I have to salute the Saudis on doing the right thing.
13 February 2008
A Joker - or a Joke?
For nearly four months the massive and inflexible "mountain" which is the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) has been moved and moved around, again and again, in search of a new Football manager for the Republic of Ireland.
A three-man committee was appointed to find a suitable replacement for the well-qualified and experienced, but luckless Steve Staunton (who was and still remains the Republic's most capped player), who had been sacked by the FAI in a very unceremonious and rather unfair manner on October 23rd, 2007.
The search for a new Ireland manager went on and on, with various names emerging, only to be dropped again faster than a hot potato. Some experienced coaches from abroad, who applied for the job or at least expressed interest, were snubbed by the FAI or simply ignored, while well-known managers from around the British Isles stated openly that they wished "not to be considered" for the position. This led to the clear perception that it is not very popular within the Football world to be manager of the Republic of Ireland.
Other potential candidates, who did show an initial interest - like former England manager (and recently their assistant manager) Terry Venables and the experienced veteran Sam Allardyce, who last managed Newcastle United and before that Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Blackpool and (in the 1991-92 season) Limerick - were held in suspension for some weeks until they lost interest as well.
Even for outsiders of the intricate world of Soccer the whole process did look more and more like a big muddle, a charade conducted by hapless elderly pundits who might well be good enough to moan and mutter over all aspects of the game - and to analyse every match and criticise every player for hours on television - but who certainly were not able and qualified to find and select a top grade professional as the new manager of the Republic of Ireland team.
To everyone's surprise the "mountain" has stopped moving today - and given birth to a mouse.
This is the only metaphor that comes to my mind, after I heard that the FAI has officially agreed a contract with Giovanni Trapattoni (photo) to become the next manager of Ireland's national Soccer team.
Giovanni who? - you might ask, as I did myself earlier. Well, let me enlighten you a little, since I have just finished my research.
Born on March 17th, 1939 - barely six months before the outbreak of World War II - in Cusano Milanino, a town in the northern Italian province of Milan, Giovanni Trapattoni began playing Football as a boy and - aged 20 - became a professional player with the famous Italian club AC Milan, primarily as a defender and defensive midfielder. However, in his twelve seasons with AC Milan Trapattoni played in only 274 games (an average of 22.8 per season) and scored just 3 goals, as he was prone to injuries and had therefore longs spells of absence from the team. After taking a break from the Italian giants, he thought he could settle with the mid-table team of Varese for one last season instead of playing for one club all his life. Having appeared for Varese in ten matches during the 1971-72 season, he retired from professional Football aged 33.
Two years later Trapattoni returned to AC Milan as a youth coach. After a period as caretaker (in 1974) he managed their first team briefly in 1976, but left the club at the end of the season. He joined Juventus Turin and was their manager from 1976 to 1986. This decade was the most successful in his career, as he lead the club to six wins of Italy's top league Seria A and two wins of the Coppa Italia. There was also international success for Juventus in this period: in 1977 they won the UEFA Cup, in 1984 the Cup Winner's Cup and European Super Cup, and in 1985 they added the European Cup and the Intercontinental Cup to their silverware.
After a decade in Turin, Giovanni returned home to Milan and managed for the next five seasons the city's second top club, Internazionale (better known as Inter Milan). In 1991 he was back at Juventus, but failed to win Seria A in three seasons. The only significant achievement in those three years was another win of the UEFA Cup in 1993 and it looked as if Trapattoni was out of luck or had at least passed his prime.
Meanwhile aged 55, Giovanni was appointed by his friend, the great Franz Beckenbauer, to manage Germany's top club FC Bayern München in 1994, when the "Kaiser" was elevated from manager to club president.
But it was a poor season for Munich and Trapattoni did not meet Beckenbauer's expectations. During this time Bayern players frequently appeared on the gossip pages of the newspapers rather than on the sports pages, resulting in the sarcastic nickname "FC Hollywood". Trapattoni left at the end of the season and took - for just one year - charge of the Sardinian club Cagliari Calcio, then struggling and fighting against relegation in Seria A, while Beckenbauer returned to manage Bayern as coach-president, winning the 1996 UEFA Cup.
But the pressure of holding the two top jobs at his club was taking its toll even on "Kaiser Franz". So his friend Giovanni - having saved Cagliari from relegation - got a second chance with Bayern München. This time he stayed for two seasons (1996-98), but once again it was a difficult time for both the club and its manager. Despite having a strong and highly paid team, Trapattoni did not cover himself in glory. In fact, the only thing he is still remembered for in Munich are his emotional verbal outburst in broken German, which made him a laughing stock with the media.
The next two seasons he was back home in Italy, managing ACF Fiorentina, the leading club of Florence, which had just won the Coppa Italia. But the best Trapattoni could do for his new team was to secure them a place in the UEFA Champions League.
However, being available (and having the right friends) the 61-year-old Giovanni Trapattoni was appointed manager of the Italian national team after Dino Zoff resigned in July 2000. He took the "Azzurri" to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but once again failed to impress. After winning the first match against Ecuador, Italy's form dropped and they lost against Croatia and almost lost against Mexico (but were eventually saved by an equaliser from substitute Del Piero that secured a draw and Italy's advance into the second round). There Italy were expected to shine, but they were defeated by South Korea, in one of the biggest upsets in the long history of the World Cup.
Surprisingly, Trapattoni kept his job and led Italy to another disappointing performance in the European Championship of 2004, from which the "Azzurri" returned home early after two first-round draws against Denmark and Sweden. This time Trapattoni had to pay the price for failure and was quickly replaced by Marcello Lippi.
Now 65, Giovanni Trapattoni could have retired, as most people do when reaching this age. But instead he returned to international club Football and took charge of Sport Lisboa e Benfica (better known as Benfica Lisbon), a famous old sports club in Portugal, leading them to win the Portuguese league for the first time in eleven years. But this, it seems, was the old lion's last roar. After losing the Portuguese cup final to Vitória de Setúbal he resigned after only one season with Benfica, saying he wanted to be closer to his family (in the north of Italy).
However, at the start of the next season Trapattoni was in Germany, as manager of Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, with much hype over his appointment. But once again Giovanni disappointed his employers as well as players and fans. During his 20 games at the helm, the club showed very poor form, with 12 draws, many of them goalless. Eventually two Danish international forwards, playing for Stuttgart, openly criticised their coach, claiming he was "afraid to attack". Trapattoni responded by putting both on the bench, but was fired himself the very next day for "not fulfilling the ambitions of the club".
This should have been the end of his career. Nevertheless, in May 2006 FC Red Bull Salzburg, one of ten clubs in the rather insignificant Austrian federal league, announced it had signed Giovanni Trapattoni as Director of Football, along with the former player Lothar Matthäus as coach. Trapattoni initially cast doubt on this report, claiming he had not agreed to any contract. But three days later, both he and Matthäus signed. After their successful season of 2006/07 the club's directors decided to dismiss Matthäus, leaving Trapattoni in sole charge. Since then FC Red Bull Salzburg were beaten by Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and then knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the first round by AEK Athens FC.
Now the FAI have chosen the 68-year-old Trapattoni (who will be 69 by the time he takes up his new job) as the next manager for our national team. Do the three men of the selection team know something hidden from the rest of us? Perhaps dear old Giovanni (whose English is by no means better than his German) is meant to be a secret Joker in the house of cards that Irish Football has been for some time. After all, he was born on St. Patrick's Day, and that should give Ireland a real advantage, shouldn't it?
More likely, however, is the possibility that the appointment of a 69-year-old Italian grandfather, who has never played in Ireland, nor managed an English-speaking team, is just another of the many bad jokes the FAI has come up with in recent years.
Undoubtedly, Trapattoni had some great successes, especially with Juventus, when he was in his prime. But those days are long gone. The only time he managed a national side (in 34 years of coaching) was an outright disaster, and several of his club assignments - especially those in Germany - were not much better. Is this really the best man the FAI can come up with, after nearly four months of searching? Or is our reputation within the world of international Football so bad by now that we have to scrap the barrel and can only get a man who should have retired years ago?
I am no longer a Football fan (since it is all money and no longer much of a sport now), even though I played the game myself when I was younger. But my heart is filled with sorrow over the sad state Irish Football is in.
The arrogance, ignorance and mis-management of the FAI have cost us already dearly, with nothing to show for on the field of play. Now even more money will be paid - foolishly, in my opinion - and things will most likely get worse. Maybe I am the only one who thought we were looking for a fresh start. If it is an OAP the FAI is after, they could find many suitable candidates in the old-folkes homes of Ireland...
The Emerald Islander
(still pinching himself to make sure he is not having a bad dream)
A three-man committee was appointed to find a suitable replacement for the well-qualified and experienced, but luckless Steve Staunton (who was and still remains the Republic's most capped player), who had been sacked by the FAI in a very unceremonious and rather unfair manner on October 23rd, 2007.
The search for a new Ireland manager went on and on, with various names emerging, only to be dropped again faster than a hot potato. Some experienced coaches from abroad, who applied for the job or at least expressed interest, were snubbed by the FAI or simply ignored, while well-known managers from around the British Isles stated openly that they wished "not to be considered" for the position. This led to the clear perception that it is not very popular within the Football world to be manager of the Republic of Ireland.
Other potential candidates, who did show an initial interest - like former England manager (and recently their assistant manager) Terry Venables and the experienced veteran Sam Allardyce, who last managed Newcastle United and before that Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Blackpool and (in the 1991-92 season) Limerick - were held in suspension for some weeks until they lost interest as well.
Even for outsiders of the intricate world of Soccer the whole process did look more and more like a big muddle, a charade conducted by hapless elderly pundits who might well be good enough to moan and mutter over all aspects of the game - and to analyse every match and criticise every player for hours on television - but who certainly were not able and qualified to find and select a top grade professional as the new manager of the Republic of Ireland team.
To everyone's surprise the "mountain" has stopped moving today - and given birth to a mouse.This is the only metaphor that comes to my mind, after I heard that the FAI has officially agreed a contract with Giovanni Trapattoni (photo) to become the next manager of Ireland's national Soccer team.
Giovanni who? - you might ask, as I did myself earlier. Well, let me enlighten you a little, since I have just finished my research.
Born on March 17th, 1939 - barely six months before the outbreak of World War II - in Cusano Milanino, a town in the northern Italian province of Milan, Giovanni Trapattoni began playing Football as a boy and - aged 20 - became a professional player with the famous Italian club AC Milan, primarily as a defender and defensive midfielder. However, in his twelve seasons with AC Milan Trapattoni played in only 274 games (an average of 22.8 per season) and scored just 3 goals, as he was prone to injuries and had therefore longs spells of absence from the team. After taking a break from the Italian giants, he thought he could settle with the mid-table team of Varese for one last season instead of playing for one club all his life. Having appeared for Varese in ten matches during the 1971-72 season, he retired from professional Football aged 33.
Two years later Trapattoni returned to AC Milan as a youth coach. After a period as caretaker (in 1974) he managed their first team briefly in 1976, but left the club at the end of the season. He joined Juventus Turin and was their manager from 1976 to 1986. This decade was the most successful in his career, as he lead the club to six wins of Italy's top league Seria A and two wins of the Coppa Italia. There was also international success for Juventus in this period: in 1977 they won the UEFA Cup, in 1984 the Cup Winner's Cup and European Super Cup, and in 1985 they added the European Cup and the Intercontinental Cup to their silverware.
After a decade in Turin, Giovanni returned home to Milan and managed for the next five seasons the city's second top club, Internazionale (better known as Inter Milan). In 1991 he was back at Juventus, but failed to win Seria A in three seasons. The only significant achievement in those three years was another win of the UEFA Cup in 1993 and it looked as if Trapattoni was out of luck or had at least passed his prime.
Meanwhile aged 55, Giovanni was appointed by his friend, the great Franz Beckenbauer, to manage Germany's top club FC Bayern München in 1994, when the "Kaiser" was elevated from manager to club president.
But it was a poor season for Munich and Trapattoni did not meet Beckenbauer's expectations. During this time Bayern players frequently appeared on the gossip pages of the newspapers rather than on the sports pages, resulting in the sarcastic nickname "FC Hollywood". Trapattoni left at the end of the season and took - for just one year - charge of the Sardinian club Cagliari Calcio, then struggling and fighting against relegation in Seria A, while Beckenbauer returned to manage Bayern as coach-president, winning the 1996 UEFA Cup.
But the pressure of holding the two top jobs at his club was taking its toll even on "Kaiser Franz". So his friend Giovanni - having saved Cagliari from relegation - got a second chance with Bayern München. This time he stayed for two seasons (1996-98), but once again it was a difficult time for both the club and its manager. Despite having a strong and highly paid team, Trapattoni did not cover himself in glory. In fact, the only thing he is still remembered for in Munich are his emotional verbal outburst in broken German, which made him a laughing stock with the media.
The next two seasons he was back home in Italy, managing ACF Fiorentina, the leading club of Florence, which had just won the Coppa Italia. But the best Trapattoni could do for his new team was to secure them a place in the UEFA Champions League.
However, being available (and having the right friends) the 61-year-old Giovanni Trapattoni was appointed manager of the Italian national team after Dino Zoff resigned in July 2000. He took the "Azzurri" to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but once again failed to impress. After winning the first match against Ecuador, Italy's form dropped and they lost against Croatia and almost lost against Mexico (but were eventually saved by an equaliser from substitute Del Piero that secured a draw and Italy's advance into the second round). There Italy were expected to shine, but they were defeated by South Korea, in one of the biggest upsets in the long history of the World Cup.
Surprisingly, Trapattoni kept his job and led Italy to another disappointing performance in the European Championship of 2004, from which the "Azzurri" returned home early after two first-round draws against Denmark and Sweden. This time Trapattoni had to pay the price for failure and was quickly replaced by Marcello Lippi.
Now 65, Giovanni Trapattoni could have retired, as most people do when reaching this age. But instead he returned to international club Football and took charge of Sport Lisboa e Benfica (better known as Benfica Lisbon), a famous old sports club in Portugal, leading them to win the Portuguese league for the first time in eleven years. But this, it seems, was the old lion's last roar. After losing the Portuguese cup final to Vitória de Setúbal he resigned after only one season with Benfica, saying he wanted to be closer to his family (in the north of Italy).
However, at the start of the next season Trapattoni was in Germany, as manager of Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, with much hype over his appointment. But once again Giovanni disappointed his employers as well as players and fans. During his 20 games at the helm, the club showed very poor form, with 12 draws, many of them goalless. Eventually two Danish international forwards, playing for Stuttgart, openly criticised their coach, claiming he was "afraid to attack". Trapattoni responded by putting both on the bench, but was fired himself the very next day for "not fulfilling the ambitions of the club".
This should have been the end of his career. Nevertheless, in May 2006 FC Red Bull Salzburg, one of ten clubs in the rather insignificant Austrian federal league, announced it had signed Giovanni Trapattoni as Director of Football, along with the former player Lothar Matthäus as coach. Trapattoni initially cast doubt on this report, claiming he had not agreed to any contract. But three days later, both he and Matthäus signed. After their successful season of 2006/07 the club's directors decided to dismiss Matthäus, leaving Trapattoni in sole charge. Since then FC Red Bull Salzburg were beaten by Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and then knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the first round by AEK Athens FC.
Now the FAI have chosen the 68-year-old Trapattoni (who will be 69 by the time he takes up his new job) as the next manager for our national team. Do the three men of the selection team know something hidden from the rest of us? Perhaps dear old Giovanni (whose English is by no means better than his German) is meant to be a secret Joker in the house of cards that Irish Football has been for some time. After all, he was born on St. Patrick's Day, and that should give Ireland a real advantage, shouldn't it?
More likely, however, is the possibility that the appointment of a 69-year-old Italian grandfather, who has never played in Ireland, nor managed an English-speaking team, is just another of the many bad jokes the FAI has come up with in recent years.
Undoubtedly, Trapattoni had some great successes, especially with Juventus, when he was in his prime. But those days are long gone. The only time he managed a national side (in 34 years of coaching) was an outright disaster, and several of his club assignments - especially those in Germany - were not much better. Is this really the best man the FAI can come up with, after nearly four months of searching? Or is our reputation within the world of international Football so bad by now that we have to scrap the barrel and can only get a man who should have retired years ago?
I am no longer a Football fan (since it is all money and no longer much of a sport now), even though I played the game myself when I was younger. But my heart is filled with sorrow over the sad state Irish Football is in.
The arrogance, ignorance and mis-management of the FAI have cost us already dearly, with nothing to show for on the field of play. Now even more money will be paid - foolishly, in my opinion - and things will most likely get worse. Maybe I am the only one who thought we were looking for a fresh start. If it is an OAP the FAI is after, they could find many suitable candidates in the old-folkes homes of Ireland...
The Emerald Islander
(still pinching himself to make sure he is not having a bad dream)
12 February 2008
The Taoiseach keeps digging
One of the principle rules from the University of Life is: If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.But is seems that such basic rules of common sense do not apply to Irish Prime Ministers. We all still remember - either with fondness or with horror (depending on our political views and affiliations) - the late Charles James Haughey (right), who kept digging until he stood up to his neck in mud and had to be ousted by his own devious mistress.
The current Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern (left), seems now to be following very faithfully in the footsteps of his former mentor and leader, as he comes under ever more pressure over his personal finances. The muddle Bertie got himself into is now so confusing that it looks as if he himself has lost the plot, maybe somewhere on the way from his separation to Manchester, or on the way back from Manchester to the Galway Races.In a statement to the Dáil he insisted today that he did not mislead parliament in relation to his personal finances. Nevertheless he did go to the High Court, to prevent the Mahon Tribunal (which investigates planning irregularities in Dublin and - connected with that - irregularities of the Taoiseach's finances) from asking him certain questions. This is particularly strange since Bertie Ahern himself was instrumental in setting up the tribunal.
To no one's suprise opposition leaders have been criticising and challenging Bertie Ahern and demanded clarity from the country's leader and former Minister for Finance.
The Taoiseach said he had "clear legal advice" that it would "not be correct for him to answer questions on statements he made to the Dáil" and that the substance of what he said had been repeated outside the house.
However, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore (left) said Mr. Ahern was "either trying to hide something or to buy time". He added that the Taoiseach's court action had nothing to do with parliamentary privilege but was only about protecting himself. He said the Taoiseach's last minute rush to the court was to play for time and to prevent the tribunal from asking questions.
Earlier Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny (right) claimed that there was "a serious gap between the information provided by the Taoiseach to the Mahon Tribunal and statements he made in the Dáil in 2006". Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr. Kenny said he did not accept that Bertie Ahern had no alternative but to lodge the High Court challenge. He then suggested the Taoiseach could have rejected the advice of his legal team and added that Ahern's move could well have the consequence of delaying the tribunal and increasing its costs.Last month government TDs backed a motion in the Dáil affirming confidence in the Mahon Tribunal, and looking forward to receiving its report "expeditiously". But the opposition parties claim the tribunal's work will be delayed by the Taoiseach's High Court challenge to three aspects of its investigation into his personal finances.
Last night the Green Party, in the typical wishy-washy way it has adopted since it joined the government, said that it "noted the legal move" and said it "hoped the legal action would not delay the inquiry's work".
Well, hope is good, but also entirely passive. And this has become the hallmark of the Green Party in government, being Bertie's passive poodle and nodding obediently to every word the Taoiseach utters. Once the standard bearers for a better future, John Gormley's Greens now wave the - also green - flag of Fianna Fail. Meanwhile the Taoiseach, in the tradition of Charles J. Haughey, keeps digging in his hole.
The Emerald Islander
11 February 2008
British Embassy Strike continues
Workers at the British Embassy in Dublin will take to the streets for a second one-day strike next Wednesday, February 20th.
At lunchtime today a general meeting of the more than 40 members of the Unite trade union voted unanimously to take this next step in support of three colleagues who face compulsory redundancy.
Pickets will again be placed outside the Embassy on Merrion Road in Ballsbridge and at the British Ambassador’s residence in Glencairn. “There is a real sense of purpose among the Embassy workers,” said Unite Regional Officer Colm Quinlan after the meeting. “They are determined to support their colleagues and to stand firm with regard to their own future security of employment.”
Over 40 members of Unite, including trade and industry staff, passport section workers, administration officials and household staff from the Ambassador’s residence picketed the British Embassy in a first one-day strike on Thursday, February 7th, after Ambassador David Reddaway refused to attend the Labour Relations Commission for talks. A skeleton staff of British diplomats manned the headquarters in Ballsbridge as their colleagues took to the streets with banners.
Derek Simpson, General Secretary of the Unite Union which has over 2 million members in Britain and Ireland, has written personally to the British Foreign Secretary David Milliband, MP, asking for his intervention and for "common sense to prevail".
Dublin is the only British embassy worldwide that recognises trade union membership, and there has been a positive and agreed set of procedures dealing with issues and disputes since 2003.
At lunchtime today a general meeting of the more than 40 members of the Unite trade union voted unanimously to take this next step in support of three colleagues who face compulsory redundancy.
Pickets will again be placed outside the Embassy on Merrion Road in Ballsbridge and at the British Ambassador’s residence in Glencairn. “There is a real sense of purpose among the Embassy workers,” said Unite Regional Officer Colm Quinlan after the meeting. “They are determined to support their colleagues and to stand firm with regard to their own future security of employment.”
Over 40 members of Unite, including trade and industry staff, passport section workers, administration officials and household staff from the Ambassador’s residence picketed the British Embassy in a first one-day strike on Thursday, February 7th, after Ambassador David Reddaway refused to attend the Labour Relations Commission for talks. A skeleton staff of British diplomats manned the headquarters in Ballsbridge as their colleagues took to the streets with banners.Derek Simpson, General Secretary of the Unite Union which has over 2 million members in Britain and Ireland, has written personally to the British Foreign Secretary David Milliband, MP, asking for his intervention and for "common sense to prevail".
Dublin is the only British embassy worldwide that recognises trade union membership, and there has been a positive and agreed set of procedures dealing with issues and disputes since 2003.
The decision on the compulsory redundancies, which is understood to have originated in London, falls outside those agreed procedures. The individuals affected are locally recruited managers, dealing with UK trade and investment matters in Ireland. Between them they have 20 years of service at the Embassy.
It has also emerged that embassy staff members have lodged a claim for up to € 500,000 in unpaid PAYE allowances, to which they were entitled over the last eight years. The British Embassy - like many others - claims it is not obliged to pay PAYE, because of its diplomatic status. But Unite says other embassies pay money in lieu of the allowance, which the British Embassy stopped doing eight years ago.
Members of the embassy staff are officially registered as "self-employed" and pay and declare their own taxes. Although their employer deducts PRSI, it has never paid PAYE, meaning staff are not eligible for the allowance. Unite has estimated that employees are due a cumulative bill of up to € 10,000 per staff member, amounting to a total bill of between € 250,000 and € 500,000.
Last week the Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, TD said that his department had "encouraged" all foreign missions in Ireland to operate the PAYE system for locally hired staff in June 2005.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) said that the British Embassy should "come to its senses". It accused the embassy of "failing to abide by agreed procedures" by forcing redundancies.
"I find it rather disappointing that the embassy should see fit to ignore the established industrial relations procedures and machinery of this State," said ICTU General Secretary David Begg.
British Embassy staff cannot speak publicly about the dispute, because they are bound by the UK Official Secrets Act. So once again we can see how - after more than 86 years of nominal Irish independence - British laws and rules have still influence on this country and some of its citizens.
The Emerald Islander
10 February 2008
Not playing Ball
County Cork is in Ireland commonly known as "the rebel county". The popular nickname has historical roots in the long and often bloody struggle of the Irish - and especially the hot-headed and short-tempered people from the south-west - against the British colonial power (until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922). Shortly afterwards County Cork became also a hotbed of rebel activity during the Irish Civil War, and ever since a bit of the old rebel spirit can be seen, heard and felt in almost everyone and everything from Cork. It is an invisible badge of honour, worn with pride and together with the county colours red and white.
The rebel spirit has also led to much success in the area of Sport, and especially in the traditional Gaelic Games (Hurling, Gaelic Football and Camogie). With a total of 113 All-Ireland honours on all levels of Hurling and Gaelic Football, Cork is in fact the most successful of all the 32 Irish counties in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
Cork is by far the most successful Hurling county and won their 30th All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 2005. The Rebels also won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship six times and many other GAA competitions.
It is therefore a shock for most GAA fans to see Cork missing from this year's sporting contests. The reason - well known by now in Ireland and discussed over and over again by numerous pundits - is the strike of the county's footballers and hurlers, which is two months old today.
The dispute between the players and their County Board (which organises Gaelic Games in the county as well as the county's teams for regional and nation-wide competitions) began with the resignation of Cork football manager Billy Morgan on November 8th over the prospect that he was not allowed to pick his own selectors.
This seemingly minor disagreement became very quickly a major point of contention in Cork and the Gaelic Players Association backed the Cork players in their threat of going on strike over the matter.
The County Board ignored the thunderclouds on the sporting horizon and on November 21st it appointed Teddy Holland as the replacement for Billy Morgan. This led to even more anger among the players, who now gave notice of their strike intentions and indeed stopped playing for Cork on December 10th.
After Christmas the crisis escalated further, when the players refused to participate in the Waterford Chrystal Cup (Jan. 9th) and Teddy Holland declared he would not resign (Jan. 23rd).
On January 30th more than a hundred club delegates voted unanimously in support of Holland at a meeting of the County Board, but to no avail. The players remained stubborn and on strike.
Last Tuesday even Taoiseach Bertie Ahern got involved and called on both sides to end the dispute and seek a compromise solution. Many hours of talk have by now taken place behind closed doors, but so far to no avail. Many thought that at least by the start of the National Hurling League - which was today - the players would come out and play (because otherwise they could force suspension and relegation). But no, there is neither an end to the strike, nor a solution in sight. Both sides have dug in their heels and the boys from the rebel county are still not playing ball.
The rebel spirit has also led to much success in the area of Sport, and especially in the traditional Gaelic Games (Hurling, Gaelic Football and Camogie). With a total of 113 All-Ireland honours on all levels of Hurling and Gaelic Football, Cork is in fact the most successful of all the 32 Irish counties in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
Cork is by far the most successful Hurling county and won their 30th All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 2005. The Rebels also won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship six times and many other GAA competitions.
It is therefore a shock for most GAA fans to see Cork missing from this year's sporting contests. The reason - well known by now in Ireland and discussed over and over again by numerous pundits - is the strike of the county's footballers and hurlers, which is two months old today.
The dispute between the players and their County Board (which organises Gaelic Games in the county as well as the county's teams for regional and nation-wide competitions) began with the resignation of Cork football manager Billy Morgan on November 8th over the prospect that he was not allowed to pick his own selectors.This seemingly minor disagreement became very quickly a major point of contention in Cork and the Gaelic Players Association backed the Cork players in their threat of going on strike over the matter.
The County Board ignored the thunderclouds on the sporting horizon and on November 21st it appointed Teddy Holland as the replacement for Billy Morgan. This led to even more anger among the players, who now gave notice of their strike intentions and indeed stopped playing for Cork on December 10th.
After Christmas the crisis escalated further, when the players refused to participate in the Waterford Chrystal Cup (Jan. 9th) and Teddy Holland declared he would not resign (Jan. 23rd).
On January 30th more than a hundred club delegates voted unanimously in support of Holland at a meeting of the County Board, but to no avail. The players remained stubborn and on strike.
Last Tuesday even Taoiseach Bertie Ahern got involved and called on both sides to end the dispute and seek a compromise solution. Many hours of talk have by now taken place behind closed doors, but so far to no avail. Many thought that at least by the start of the National Hurling League - which was today - the players would come out and play (because otherwise they could force suspension and relegation). But no, there is neither an end to the strike, nor a solution in sight. Both sides have dug in their heels and the boys from the rebel county are still not playing ball.
Earlier this afternoon around a thousand people attended a march in support of the players through the streets of Cork. The march was also attended by Cork senior footballer Noel O'Leary and senior hurler John Gardiner. And tonight the Cork senior hurlers and footballers are meeting again to discuss the latest developments in their dispute with the Cork County Board.
I am not a sports pundit, and certainly no soothsayer. But it would surprise me if the Cork players would give in soon, after having stood their ground for so long. The County Board - also made up of stubborn men - can form many committees and hold talks as long as they please, but in the end there is no sport without the people playing it. So in the long run the County Board has the much weaker position in the dispute and will eventually have to give in somehow. If the officials can manage to keep their faces (and positions) remains to be seen.
The overall looser is already the spirit of the GAA, together with the good will that goes a long way. And many disappointed fans are losing out, too, of course.
To paraphrase a well-known satirical poem by Bertold Brecht: Perhaps it might be best if the County Board dissolved the sport and looked for another...
The Emerald Islander
(who lived in Cork and has still friends there)
09 February 2008
Cassidy's (Driving) Law
Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (our parliament), does not often make political headlines. Like most upper houses in democratic systems, our 60-seat Senate is a much more quiet place than Dáil Éireann, the 166-seat (lower) House of Representatives, where debates are fought strictly along party lines.
Many of the Senators belong to political parties as well, but there is also a significant contingent of independents and the general tone of debates is more collegiate and often even friendly. And though the Senate is rather active in the production and discussion of legislation, its members seldom make the national headlines.
It came therefore as a surprise when Senator Donie Cassidy (right), the Leader of Seanad Éireann, shook the nation yesterday with a truly revolutionary proposal. The veteran Fianna Fail politician, who lost his Dáil seat in last year's general election and received his current position as a consolation price from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, obviously decided that he wants to be an active Leader of the Senate instead of being just parked in the upper house until the next election.
Donie Cassidy announced - all by himself - that Ireland's motorists should give up driving on the left side of the road and join the vast majority of the world's countries whose cars drive on the right side. The main reason for the Senator's suggestion is "to reduce accidents by foreigners accustomed to right-side motoring". Never mind the many Irish drivers who never passed a test and make the island's roads a constant hazard course, and never mind also that a change to right-hand driving would reduce the costs of motor vehicles as well as their insurance. It is once again the foreigners who are to blame for a proposed change to one of our so cherished and equally ridiculous traditions left behind by the former colonial power.
But not enough with a fundamental change of driving habits in this rather conservative country. No, there is more, as the Fianna Fail Senator really has it in for the (bloody) foreigners - most of them from right-driving central and eastern Europe - who meanwhile make up about 15% of our population, due to Ireland's massive economic growth over the past decade.
To punish them for coming here and doing all the jobs the newly rich Irish people are no longer willing to take, Senator Cassidy proposes that people from countries driving on the right should observe a general 80 km per hour speed limit on all Irish roads, compared with speeds up to 120 kilometres permitted for Irish drivers.
This idea is truly xenophobic, discriminating, ridiculous, impractical and probably even illegal and unconstitutional. Even if passed into law, it would never work, as it is totally unenforcable. Most foreigners driving in Ireland have an Irish-registered car. So how shall a Garda patrol know who is driving and if the person behind the wheel learned his or her skills in a country with a right-sided traffic system? The only way would be the display of another symbol on the car: a bright red F (for foreigner) perhaps, or maybe even the letters RM (for right-side motoring). Such a compulsory display would be unique, as no other country has ever sunk to such a low level of culture and common sense. In history such a marking policy would stand right beside the yellow star which Jews in Nazi Germany were forced to wear on their clothes at all times.
Besides our newly acquired European workforce, Cassidy's Law would also hit foreign tourists. Surprisingly, despite our ridiculously high prices and notoriously sloppy service, Ireland is still a popular tourist destination for visitors from Europe and the United States. They, too, should be limited to 80 km per hour when driving on our roads, if Senator Cassidy gets away with his idea.
But from my own experience there are no problems for a well-trained and able driver in switching from one system of traffic flow to another. Over the span of my life I have driven all sorts of cars in many different countries: right- driven cars in right-sided and left-sided systems, as well as left-driven cars in left-sided and right-sided systems.
I have crossed deserts and mountain ranges, drove through jungles and across plains, and negotiated successfully the traffic on hundreds of motorways and in many big cities, without a single accident ever.
It is not foreigners who cause Ireland's traffic problems. It is actually a combination of too few roads in often bad conditions, too many untrained drivers and a still unsolved attitude problem with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Another factor is the high proportion of goods transport on our roads, due to a severe lack of railway lines in most parts of the island. No speed limit for non-nationals will ever solve that!
Most traffic accidents are caused by our own people, and it would only be fair if the Leader of Seanad Éireann could acknowledge that. Most foreigners are better drivers than most of the Irish, as in almost all other countries they have much better roads, proper driving tests, and no one is allowed to drive until the test is passed. And regarding the tourists, well, only a small amount of them bring their own car to Ireland. They are mostly EU citizens from countries with vastly superior traffic conditions and have usually more experience. Otherwise it would not be the case that many Irish buses are now driven by Poles, Czechs, Slovaks and other continental Europeans! And 99% of the Americans on holiday in Ireland travel in organised groups, using tour buses. So none of the Senator's arguments wash and he should better forget very quickly his ridiculous proposal, else he might not only be the Leader of the Senate, but also the country's most prominent laughing stock.
However, as daft and impractical as his speed limit for foreigners is, the suggestion to change the driving system in Ireland from left to right makes a lot of sense. With the exception of the UK, several former British colonies, Japan and Thailand most of the world's countries have a right- sided traffic system. Thus cars and insurance are cheaper, and the flow of traffic across national borders is generally unproblematic. Sweden, the last continental European country to switch from left to right (in 1967) experienced no major problems with the change and has since greatly benefited from it.
So as much as I am shocked and appalled by Senator Cassidy's speed limit idea, I wholeheartedly salute him for the suggestion to change the traffic system. If he sticks to that one, and presents it to the country in an unbiased and non-political way, it could (and should) succeed eventually.
The Emerald Islander
(driving on all sides as a true independent)
Many of the Senators belong to political parties as well, but there is also a significant contingent of independents and the general tone of debates is more collegiate and often even friendly. And though the Senate is rather active in the production and discussion of legislation, its members seldom make the national headlines.
It came therefore as a surprise when Senator Donie Cassidy (right), the Leader of Seanad Éireann, shook the nation yesterday with a truly revolutionary proposal. The veteran Fianna Fail politician, who lost his Dáil seat in last year's general election and received his current position as a consolation price from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, obviously decided that he wants to be an active Leader of the Senate instead of being just parked in the upper house until the next election.Donie Cassidy announced - all by himself - that Ireland's motorists should give up driving on the left side of the road and join the vast majority of the world's countries whose cars drive on the right side. The main reason for the Senator's suggestion is "to reduce accidents by foreigners accustomed to right-side motoring". Never mind the many Irish drivers who never passed a test and make the island's roads a constant hazard course, and never mind also that a change to right-hand driving would reduce the costs of motor vehicles as well as their insurance. It is once again the foreigners who are to blame for a proposed change to one of our so cherished and equally ridiculous traditions left behind by the former colonial power.
But not enough with a fundamental change of driving habits in this rather conservative country. No, there is more, as the Fianna Fail Senator really has it in for the (bloody) foreigners - most of them from right-driving central and eastern Europe - who meanwhile make up about 15% of our population, due to Ireland's massive economic growth over the past decade.
To punish them for coming here and doing all the jobs the newly rich Irish people are no longer willing to take, Senator Cassidy proposes that people from countries driving on the right should observe a general 80 km per hour speed limit on all Irish roads, compared with speeds up to 120 kilometres permitted for Irish drivers.
This idea is truly xenophobic, discriminating, ridiculous, impractical and probably even illegal and unconstitutional. Even if passed into law, it would never work, as it is totally unenforcable. Most foreigners driving in Ireland have an Irish-registered car. So how shall a Garda patrol know who is driving and if the person behind the wheel learned his or her skills in a country with a right-sided traffic system? The only way would be the display of another symbol on the car: a bright red F (for foreigner) perhaps, or maybe even the letters RM (for right-side motoring). Such a compulsory display would be unique, as no other country has ever sunk to such a low level of culture and common sense. In history such a marking policy would stand right beside the yellow star which Jews in Nazi Germany were forced to wear on their clothes at all times.
Besides our newly acquired European workforce, Cassidy's Law would also hit foreign tourists. Surprisingly, despite our ridiculously high prices and notoriously sloppy service, Ireland is still a popular tourist destination for visitors from Europe and the United States. They, too, should be limited to 80 km per hour when driving on our roads, if Senator Cassidy gets away with his idea.
"We have all of these people coming in from Europe and from America and because of the roads that they are used to driving on in their own countries it is a huge difficulty when they start driving here," Cassidy told our national broadcaster RTE. "I know when I go to America it takes me five or six days to adjust."
Well, I should admit that I am a little bit allergic against individuals who refer to other human beings as "these people". And I could not possibly comment on Senator Donie Cassidy's personal driving skills.But from my own experience there are no problems for a well-trained and able driver in switching from one system of traffic flow to another. Over the span of my life I have driven all sorts of cars in many different countries: right- driven cars in right-sided and left-sided systems, as well as left-driven cars in left-sided and right-sided systems.
I have crossed deserts and mountain ranges, drove through jungles and across plains, and negotiated successfully the traffic on hundreds of motorways and in many big cities, without a single accident ever.
It is not foreigners who cause Ireland's traffic problems. It is actually a combination of too few roads in often bad conditions, too many untrained drivers and a still unsolved attitude problem with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Another factor is the high proportion of goods transport on our roads, due to a severe lack of railway lines in most parts of the island. No speed limit for non-nationals will ever solve that!Most traffic accidents are caused by our own people, and it would only be fair if the Leader of Seanad Éireann could acknowledge that. Most foreigners are better drivers than most of the Irish, as in almost all other countries they have much better roads, proper driving tests, and no one is allowed to drive until the test is passed. And regarding the tourists, well, only a small amount of them bring their own car to Ireland. They are mostly EU citizens from countries with vastly superior traffic conditions and have usually more experience. Otherwise it would not be the case that many Irish buses are now driven by Poles, Czechs, Slovaks and other continental Europeans! And 99% of the Americans on holiday in Ireland travel in organised groups, using tour buses. So none of the Senator's arguments wash and he should better forget very quickly his ridiculous proposal, else he might not only be the Leader of the Senate, but also the country's most prominent laughing stock.
However, as daft and impractical as his speed limit for foreigners is, the suggestion to change the driving system in Ireland from left to right makes a lot of sense. With the exception of the UK, several former British colonies, Japan and Thailand most of the world's countries have a right- sided traffic system. Thus cars and insurance are cheaper, and the flow of traffic across national borders is generally unproblematic. Sweden, the last continental European country to switch from left to right (in 1967) experienced no major problems with the change and has since greatly benefited from it.
So as much as I am shocked and appalled by Senator Cassidy's speed limit idea, I wholeheartedly salute him for the suggestion to change the traffic system. If he sticks to that one, and presents it to the country in an unbiased and non-political way, it could (and should) succeed eventually.
The Emerald Islander
(driving on all sides as a true independent)
08 February 2008
Skeletons in the Cardinal's Cupboard
Cardinal Desmond Connell (left) would "rather go to jail than release confidential files" to the government- backed commission that investigates sexual abuse by Catholic priests. According to a report in The Irish Catholic newspaper the now retired former Archbishop of Dublin made this strong statement to some friends, after he had learned that his successor, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, has agreed to release the confidential documents.Cardinal Connell has begun proceedings in the High Court, challenging the production of documents from diocesan files to the Dublin Diocesan Commission of Investigation into the handling by the Cardinal and others of complaints of child abuse against Catholic clergy. The Cardinal claims that the documents in question are "legally privileged" and lawyers acting on his behalf secured an interim court injunction restraining the Commission from examining them to decide whether they attract legal privilege and/or a duty of confidentiality.
The proceedings arise from an order, issued by the Diocesan Commission last December, compelling Diarmuid Martin (right) as current Archbishop of Dublin to produce all documents included by him in an "affidavit of discovery". It listed documents dating from 1975 to 2004, relating to claims of child abuse against a representative sample of 46 priests in the Dublin Archdiocese.Archbishop Martin delivered the documents in disc format on January 15th and the Commission indicated its intention to begin examining them, in order to decide whether they are, as Cardinal Connell claims, "legally privileged or subject to a duty of confidentiality".
The Commission refused a request from Connell's solicitor not to begin that examination process pending the outcome of the Cardinal's legal action. Lawyers then secured leave from Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill to bring a judicial review challenge to the Commission's handling of the discovery issue.
These recent developments are disturbing, and one cannot help but wonder what kind of embarrassing skeletons Cardinal Connell has been hiding in all those years when he was in charge of the Dublin Archdiocese. It is already known that he had little time for the victims of sexual abuse and was more concerned with hiding the facts from the public. Numerous priests, accused of wrong-doing, were neither disciplined or removed by the Cardinal, but usually just shifted to another parish where they were previously unknown. Such neglect led often to further cases of abuse.
When the ever longer-growing list of complaints eventually reached Rome, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (left), then the powerful Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (and now Pope Benedict XVI), appointed Diarmuid Martin, a Vatican diplomat with an impeccable service record, as the coadjutor Archbishop of Dublin and designated successor of Desmond Connell. One of Martin's main tasks was - and still is - to clear up the mess created by his predecessor. He has not disappointed the Vatican and also regained a lot of the public confidence lost under Cardinal Connell's reign as Archbishop.Only time will tell if the honest efforts of the current Dublin diocesan administration - fully supported by the Vatican - will succeed, or if the meanwhile 81-year-old Cardinal Connell can - with the help of the Irish judiciary - continue to hide the skeletons in his cupboard.
The Emerald Islander
For the latest up-date see the Comment section below
07 February 2008
The Advantage of the Long-Distance Traveler
This lunchtime I was at Dublin Airport and parted from a friend who was flying to Zürich (a distance of 750 miles), while I was traveling on land to Waterford (a distance of 100 miles). The weather was fine and dry, the temperature 11 degrees Celsius and there appeared to be no problems.
My friend's aeroplane left on time at 12.30 p.m., and shortly afterwards I left the airport and headed South on the Irish motorway system. But I did not get very far. Somewhere - far ahead of me and out of sight - there was apparently an accident, which blocked the flow of traffic and created a massive traffic jam around Dublin.
After about two hours and thirty minutes I received a text message from my friend, telling me of the save arrival in Zürich, while I was still very close to Dublin Airport. To make a long story short, there were two more accidents on the way South, and after a truly nightmarish journey I did eventually arrive in Waterford shortly before 8.30 p.m. this evening.
For the 100 miles across Ireland I needed eight hours, while my friend crossed a 7.5 times longer distance to Europe in little more than two hours(!), about a quarter of the time I spent on the road.
We are not a large island, and have a population of only 4.3 million by now. So one would think it should be possible to create an infrastructure that makes traveling in Ireland a normal and reasonably timed experience. Sadly that is much too often not the case, because there is widespread incompetence in our government and on all levels of administration. Everything seems to be more complicated, takes a lot longer, and costs a lot more money than similar things do elsewhere in Europe.
A long-distance traveler coming to or going from Ireland has therefore a clear advantage over the domestic traveler in Ireland, who is left helpless in the huge spider's web of incompetence, bad planning and slow reaction to events. It is really no fun to travel in Ireland, and least so when the journey begins or ends in Dublin.
The Emerald Islander
My friend's aeroplane left on time at 12.30 p.m., and shortly afterwards I left the airport and headed South on the Irish motorway system. But I did not get very far. Somewhere - far ahead of me and out of sight - there was apparently an accident, which blocked the flow of traffic and created a massive traffic jam around Dublin.
After about two hours and thirty minutes I received a text message from my friend, telling me of the save arrival in Zürich, while I was still very close to Dublin Airport. To make a long story short, there were two more accidents on the way South, and after a truly nightmarish journey I did eventually arrive in Waterford shortly before 8.30 p.m. this evening.
For the 100 miles across Ireland I needed eight hours, while my friend crossed a 7.5 times longer distance to Europe in little more than two hours(!), about a quarter of the time I spent on the road.
We are not a large island, and have a population of only 4.3 million by now. So one would think it should be possible to create an infrastructure that makes traveling in Ireland a normal and reasonably timed experience. Sadly that is much too often not the case, because there is widespread incompetence in our government and on all levels of administration. Everything seems to be more complicated, takes a lot longer, and costs a lot more money than similar things do elsewhere in Europe.
A long-distance traveler coming to or going from Ireland has therefore a clear advantage over the domestic traveler in Ireland, who is left helpless in the huge spider's web of incompetence, bad planning and slow reaction to events. It is really no fun to travel in Ireland, and least so when the journey begins or ends in Dublin.
The Emerald Islander
Obama remains the only Alternative
(6 February 2008) When the political animals (members of the two large political parties) in 24 of the 50 US states are voting all on the same day - even if it is "only" in Primaries - one can see quite clearly if there are trends and where they are going. Yesterday's results from across the USA were interesting and consolidated the bigger picture one is getting from this year's presidential election, but there were no great surprises. We spent all night in Dun Laoghaire with a good crowd of mostly young people - Irish, Americans and various others - and watched on the large TV screens the news coming in on CNN. There was much skillful analysis - on screen as well as in the Lime Club (where politics.ie hosted this birthday party cum "Super Tuesday" watch) - and many a good conversation was heard until the dawn touched us all, reminding us of other duties we have to attend to.
On the Republican side John McCain has gained much support, especially in the larger states (including California), while his two remaining rivals for the nomination - Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee - performed predictably. It was no surprise that Romney - a Mormon - took Utah (the only predominantly Mormon state in the USA) and that Huckabee - a Southern Baptist preacher and creationist - won his home state Arkansas (where he was governor in the past) and did well in the adjacent Tennessee (now that Fred Thompson is out of the race). Huckabee also won Alabama, Georgia and West Virginia, and it is clear that all his support comes from right-wing fundamentalists and creationists in the so-called "Bible Belt". This will never be enough for a nomination, but being a fighter and convinced of his own "mission", the rather bland and uninspiring former governor will hang on for another while.
So does - surprisingly - Texas congressman Ron Paul. The "lone ranger of libertarianism from the lone star state" might be a maverick and the most unlikely outsider in the run for the Republican nomination, but he is still standing after coming second in Montana (with 25% of the votes) and third in neighbouring North Dakota (where he polled 21%).
Mitt Romney, now the second-favourite Republican after McCain, is gaining his support from a number of different directions. Besides his home state Massachusetts (where he was governor), he also won Maine and the chain of northern states bordering Canada (Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana). They tie in nicely with Utah and Wyoming, bot Romney also gained Colorado and Alaska. Nevertheless, most of these states have a relatively small population and therefore send not many delegates to the nomination conventions.
The great winner in the more populated states (including the important marker California) was - to no one's surprise - John McCain, who won in his home state Arizona, in Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois, as well as the crucial vote in New York (now that Rudy Guliani is out of the race and has endorsed McCain as his favourite). "Super Tuesday" has been good for the former war hero, and in my opinion his nomination as the Republican candidate for the 44th presidency is as good as certain.
Now the real big question is who will be the nominee for the Democrats. With only two potential candidates left standing and both polling very strongly, there is not much room between Hillary Clinton (who - after winning New York and California - has so far more delegates on her side) and Barack Obama (who won more states, and all of them - except Missouri - with a very clear margin).
Both senators are fighting sophisticated campaigns with highly skilled teams of supporters, but it is becoming quite clear that Hillary Clinton is slowly and steadily losing momentum. She might be an energetic woman with an extremely high grade of recognition, but she has no new ideas. All she can offer the American people is four (or perhaps even eight) more years of the same old policies that have been the hallmark of the USA since the 1950s. This might still find support and create satisfaction with older voters and women (who are more "conservative" in their general views and electoral behaviour than men), but it does not inspire young people.
Surveys are showing that the younger the voters are, the more likely they are to support Barack Obama, who is the only "new kid on the block". If he can win the Democrats' nomination and translate this party support into actual votes in November, the USA and with that the world might see a new beginning with hope for a better world, very much as John F. Kennedy tried to create it in the early 1960s. For me Obama is and remains the only alternative to the "bad old US style" of politics (at home and abroad) in this year's presidential elections. The crucial questions are: Will the Democrats have the guts to nominate him? And will the Americans then have enough wisdom to see what is at stake and vote for him?
The Emerald Islander
P.S. Due to technical problems this entry from February 6th could only be posted on the 7th
On the Republican side John McCain has gained much support, especially in the larger states (including California), while his two remaining rivals for the nomination - Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee - performed predictably. It was no surprise that Romney - a Mormon - took Utah (the only predominantly Mormon state in the USA) and that Huckabee - a Southern Baptist preacher and creationist - won his home state Arkansas (where he was governor in the past) and did well in the adjacent Tennessee (now that Fred Thompson is out of the race). Huckabee also won Alabama, Georgia and West Virginia, and it is clear that all his support comes from right-wing fundamentalists and creationists in the so-called "Bible Belt". This will never be enough for a nomination, but being a fighter and convinced of his own "mission", the rather bland and uninspiring former governor will hang on for another while.
So does - surprisingly - Texas congressman Ron Paul. The "lone ranger of libertarianism from the lone star state" might be a maverick and the most unlikely outsider in the run for the Republican nomination, but he is still standing after coming second in Montana (with 25% of the votes) and third in neighbouring North Dakota (where he polled 21%).
Mitt Romney, now the second-favourite Republican after McCain, is gaining his support from a number of different directions. Besides his home state Massachusetts (where he was governor), he also won Maine and the chain of northern states bordering Canada (Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana). They tie in nicely with Utah and Wyoming, bot Romney also gained Colorado and Alaska. Nevertheless, most of these states have a relatively small population and therefore send not many delegates to the nomination conventions.
The great winner in the more populated states (including the important marker California) was - to no one's surprise - John McCain, who won in his home state Arizona, in Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois, as well as the crucial vote in New York (now that Rudy Guliani is out of the race and has endorsed McCain as his favourite). "Super Tuesday" has been good for the former war hero, and in my opinion his nomination as the Republican candidate for the 44th presidency is as good as certain.
Now the real big question is who will be the nominee for the Democrats. With only two potential candidates left standing and both polling very strongly, there is not much room between Hillary Clinton (who - after winning New York and California - has so far more delegates on her side) and Barack Obama (who won more states, and all of them - except Missouri - with a very clear margin).
Both senators are fighting sophisticated campaigns with highly skilled teams of supporters, but it is becoming quite clear that Hillary Clinton is slowly and steadily losing momentum. She might be an energetic woman with an extremely high grade of recognition, but she has no new ideas. All she can offer the American people is four (or perhaps even eight) more years of the same old policies that have been the hallmark of the USA since the 1950s. This might still find support and create satisfaction with older voters and women (who are more "conservative" in their general views and electoral behaviour than men), but it does not inspire young people.
Surveys are showing that the younger the voters are, the more likely they are to support Barack Obama, who is the only "new kid on the block". If he can win the Democrats' nomination and translate this party support into actual votes in November, the USA and with that the world might see a new beginning with hope for a better world, very much as John F. Kennedy tried to create it in the early 1960s. For me Obama is and remains the only alternative to the "bad old US style" of politics (at home and abroad) in this year's presidential elections. The crucial questions are: Will the Democrats have the guts to nominate him? And will the Americans then have enough wisdom to see what is at stake and vote for him?
The Emerald Islander
P.S. Due to technical problems this entry from February 6th could only be posted on the 7th
05 February 2008
"Super Tuesday"
During the season of US Primary elections traditionally a specific Tuesday in February or March is designated as "Super Tuesday", because a large number of states will vote for the nominees of both major political parties on this very day all over the USA.
As everything this year is a bit early - because of a very early date for Easter - today is "Super Tuesday" for this year's election campaign. In a total of 24 US states millions of Democrats and Republicans will decide who should represent them in the forthcoming presidential election in early November. Many millions more will watch the results from across the whole North-American continent and follow each state and party with great interest. I am one of them, and as I write this, I am getting ready for a special event here tonight.
The fifth birthday of politics.ie, a leading political website here in Ireland, coincides with "Super Tuesday" and many interested people will gather in Dun Laoghaire, a famous suburb of Dublin, to celebrate the anniversary while they also watch the US Primary results coming in - all night long until 7 o'clock tomorrow morning. This will be a long night, but I hope it will be a good one.
All day long some US citizens who are members of the Democratic Party and currently live in Ireland were gathering already in a pub in Dublin's Suffolk Street. There "Democrats abroad", who will send a total of 22 delegates to the nomination convention, were voting in their special Irish Primary. With only Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama left standing, the support was fairly evenly divided and I have not yet heard of a result. But in case I pick that news up tonight in Dun Laoghaire - together with many others - I will report it here tomorrow. Now I better get ready for dinner, as we have booked a table and one should never leave friends waiting.
The Emerald Islander
As everything this year is a bit early - because of a very early date for Easter - today is "Super Tuesday" for this year's election campaign. In a total of 24 US states millions of Democrats and Republicans will decide who should represent them in the forthcoming presidential election in early November. Many millions more will watch the results from across the whole North-American continent and follow each state and party with great interest. I am one of them, and as I write this, I am getting ready for a special event here tonight.
The fifth birthday of politics.ie, a leading political website here in Ireland, coincides with "Super Tuesday" and many interested people will gather in Dun Laoghaire, a famous suburb of Dublin, to celebrate the anniversary while they also watch the US Primary results coming in - all night long until 7 o'clock tomorrow morning. This will be a long night, but I hope it will be a good one.
All day long some US citizens who are members of the Democratic Party and currently live in Ireland were gathering already in a pub in Dublin's Suffolk Street. There "Democrats abroad", who will send a total of 22 delegates to the nomination convention, were voting in their special Irish Primary. With only Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama left standing, the support was fairly evenly divided and I have not yet heard of a result. But in case I pick that news up tonight in Dun Laoghaire - together with many others - I will report it here tomorrow. Now I better get ready for dinner, as we have booked a table and one should never leave friends waiting.
The Emerald Islander
04 February 2008
The Green Side of Planet Bertie
Twelve months ago John Gormley, TD, then Cathaoirleach (chairman) but not leader of Ireland's Green Party, as well as one of their six TDs (members of Dáil Eireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament), created a new planet.
This amazing feat was accomplished in Galway, where he was rallying the members of his party during a pre-election speech, in anticipation of the general election which was due in May 2007.
Gormley (left) was a passionate orator, and in those heady days - it seems - he also believed in what he said and would deliver what he promised.
In Galway, known as "the city of the tribes", he made his stirring speech about the "strange tribe called Fianna Fail" which "lives in a world of its own (and of its own making) called Planet Bertie". There one could get loans from people that one did not have to pay back, and one could save Ir£ 50,000 without even having a bank account.
But Gormley did not leave it at that. When he noticed how well his speech went down with the audience, he kept going and placed a frontal attack at the doorstep of Michael McDowell, his long nemesis and constituency opponent from Dublin South-East. The then Minister for Justice had only recently become leader of the Progressive Democrats and replaced his predecessor as Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) as well. He was literally basking in joy at the peak of his personal political career. But such joy has a price, and in the case of Michael McDowell this was the "rent" for his patch of land on Planet Bertie, which he inherited from Mary Harney.
John Gormley's eagle eyes saw this weak spot immediately and he said that the new PD leader had become Ireland's version of Tammy Wynnette, "standing desperately by his man Bertie". This hurt, especially since McDowell (right) - in contrast to Mary Harney - had enough doubts about the Taoiseach and his highly unusual (to say the least) personal and financial dealings. Even in the build-up to the 2007 election campaign the then Tanaiste was more than once only a step away from pulling the plug on the coalition with Fianna Fail. I am sure that Michael McDowell - when reflecting on 2007 - has come to regret his loyalty to Planet Bertie. It did not only cost him his seat in Dublin South-East, it destroyed his party and ended his political career forever. (And there are not too many mourning these facts in my neck of the woods...)
Meanwhile the cosmic situation inside the Irish universe has changed dramatically. Before he became fully aware of it, John Gormley, who coined the memorable catch phrases of Planet Bertie and good old Tammy standing by the man, finds himself not only on the very same strange planet he verbally created, but standing by Bertie in exactly the way Michael McDowell did before him (and Tammy Wynnette would have done, too, if she had the luck of being Irish).
And all this in the span of a year... How extraordinary!
Being confronted with his great remarks from the recent past, Gormley was rather taken aback and might have wished to have more powers, including that of turning back the clock. But such power is not available, not even to the Minister for the Environment. So he produced a little sweet-and-sour smile and said that now he lives on "Planet Earth" and is concerned with saving it from climate change. Well put, dear John, but what about all the philosophy, principles and true commitments that were left behind when the Green Party crossed the line of decency to join Fianna Fail?
John Gormley might think he lives on this planet, but I know better. Because I am here on Earth, on the very Emerald Isle he comes from himself, and see each day the problems FF-led coalition governments have caused in more than ten years in power. It seems that the Green Party leadership took off in a dream-like spaceship, when they saw the chance of power looming for them over the horizon. But it was a short and costly flight. The ship crash-landed on Planet Bertie (the only place it was heading for anyway) and John Gormley has - quite ironically, really - become the replacement for Michael McDowell as the nodding little dog in the rear window of the government's big car.
Welcome to the green side of Planet Bertie, where the taxes are higher, pollution is lower, and no one is allowed to change a light bulb, unless it is one that saves energy. The Hill of Tara is still sacrificed to the jaws of big traffic, the concerns of Mayo people over Shell are still ignored, and most of the green principles - built up over more than 25 years in opposition - are burned on the bonfire of vanities. Welcome to the green side on Planet Bertie, indeed!
The Emerald Islander
This amazing feat was accomplished in Galway, where he was rallying the members of his party during a pre-election speech, in anticipation of the general election which was due in May 2007.
Gormley (left) was a passionate orator, and in those heady days - it seems - he also believed in what he said and would deliver what he promised.In Galway, known as "the city of the tribes", he made his stirring speech about the "strange tribe called Fianna Fail" which "lives in a world of its own (and of its own making) called Planet Bertie". There one could get loans from people that one did not have to pay back, and one could save Ir£ 50,000 without even having a bank account.
But Gormley did not leave it at that. When he noticed how well his speech went down with the audience, he kept going and placed a frontal attack at the doorstep of Michael McDowell, his long nemesis and constituency opponent from Dublin South-East. The then Minister for Justice had only recently become leader of the Progressive Democrats and replaced his predecessor as Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) as well. He was literally basking in joy at the peak of his personal political career. But such joy has a price, and in the case of Michael McDowell this was the "rent" for his patch of land on Planet Bertie, which he inherited from Mary Harney.
John Gormley's eagle eyes saw this weak spot immediately and he said that the new PD leader had become Ireland's version of Tammy Wynnette, "standing desperately by his man Bertie". This hurt, especially since McDowell (right) - in contrast to Mary Harney - had enough doubts about the Taoiseach and his highly unusual (to say the least) personal and financial dealings. Even in the build-up to the 2007 election campaign the then Tanaiste was more than once only a step away from pulling the plug on the coalition with Fianna Fail. I am sure that Michael McDowell - when reflecting on 2007 - has come to regret his loyalty to Planet Bertie. It did not only cost him his seat in Dublin South-East, it destroyed his party and ended his political career forever. (And there are not too many mourning these facts in my neck of the woods...)Meanwhile the cosmic situation inside the Irish universe has changed dramatically. Before he became fully aware of it, John Gormley, who coined the memorable catch phrases of Planet Bertie and good old Tammy standing by the man, finds himself not only on the very same strange planet he verbally created, but standing by Bertie in exactly the way Michael McDowell did before him (and Tammy Wynnette would have done, too, if she had the luck of being Irish).
And all this in the span of a year... How extraordinary!
Being confronted with his great remarks from the recent past, Gormley was rather taken aback and might have wished to have more powers, including that of turning back the clock. But such power is not available, not even to the Minister for the Environment. So he produced a little sweet-and-sour smile and said that now he lives on "Planet Earth" and is concerned with saving it from climate change. Well put, dear John, but what about all the philosophy, principles and true commitments that were left behind when the Green Party crossed the line of decency to join Fianna Fail?
John Gormley might think he lives on this planet, but I know better. Because I am here on Earth, on the very Emerald Isle he comes from himself, and see each day the problems FF-led coalition governments have caused in more than ten years in power. It seems that the Green Party leadership took off in a dream-like spaceship, when they saw the chance of power looming for them over the horizon. But it was a short and costly flight. The ship crash-landed on Planet Bertie (the only place it was heading for anyway) and John Gormley has - quite ironically, really - become the replacement for Michael McDowell as the nodding little dog in the rear window of the government's big car.
Welcome to the green side of Planet Bertie, where the taxes are higher, pollution is lower, and no one is allowed to change a light bulb, unless it is one that saves energy. The Hill of Tara is still sacrificed to the jaws of big traffic, the concerns of Mayo people over Shell are still ignored, and most of the green principles - built up over more than 25 years in opposition - are burned on the bonfire of vanities. Welcome to the green side on Planet Bertie, indeed!
The Emerald Islander
03 February 2008
No more Saints and Scholars
In the distant past Ireland was known as "the island of Saints and Scholars". This was during the so-called Golden Age of Ireland, when Celtic Christianity dominated the culture, philosophy, daily life and foreign policy of the island and its ruling clans.
During that period the Irish not only educated many students from all over Europe in their famous schools (attached to the many monasteries), they also sent hundreds of monks and missionaries to the continent, in order to spread the Good News, enlighten the barbarians and establish a number of new monasteries under Irish leadership. (Within less than 200 years Irish monks founded about 120 new abbeys in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, parts of France and Northern Italy. Many were given Irish names, and a good few have survived the tests of time and still exist as active places of prayer and contemplation today.)
Then came the Normans and created a two-tier system in Ireland. They also brought with them a much harsher and doctrinal version of Christianity, sanctioned by Rome and deeply suspicious of the more down-to-Earth Celtic Church of the Irish. It took only a few decades for the Golden Age of Ireland to end, being replaced by a harsh system of rules, restrictions and more rules that were not much to the liking of the gregarious Celts.
The Normans were replaced by the even more arrogant English, and when Henry VIII decided to make himself head of a new church, Ireland became the place of strongest resistance, the part of the realm that also suffered most under the new regime. But despite all the hardship, wars and oppression, Ireland still produced the odd saint now and then, and a really amazing amount of scholars.
This went on until fairly recently. But since the "Cetic Tiger" has eaten most of our decency and common sense and left us sitting on a crock of gold (which we have quickly turned into a pile of debts) life in Ireland has changed in many ways. There are still excellent universities and more students than ever study there now. But unfortunately they are no longer renowned for their academic prowess and achievements. These days they are more noticed for binge drinking, the taking of drugs, and subsequently a number of accidents and crimes, often influenced by drink and drugs.
Of course the drinking and drug taking for which Ireland is meanwhile as infamous as it was famous for saints and scholars in the past, is not limited to students.
Far from it. Huge parts of the population are joining in, and subsequently pay the price for it. There is no weekend now without tragedy, and when I switch on the radio on a Sunday morning for the RTE news, there are always reports of killings, brawls, and several fatal traffic accidents.
(I have been wondering if RTE would have any news to report on a Sunday morning if there were not those weekly occurring tragedies...)
This morning was no difference: A stabbing with following murder investigation in Co. Galway, a number of fatal car crashes in the Midlands, a drug confiscation in Co. Cork and, last but not least, some more beatings and assaults in the ongoing gang war that haunts Dublin for years. Not my idea to begin a Sunday, but the blunt reality of the Emerald Isle in the early 21st century.
There are no more saints to be found here, and very few scholars. Their places have long been taken by - to cover only three letters - blaggards and bureaucrats, con men and criminals, drunkards a drug dealers.
The Emerald Islander
During that period the Irish not only educated many students from all over Europe in their famous schools (attached to the many monasteries), they also sent hundreds of monks and missionaries to the continent, in order to spread the Good News, enlighten the barbarians and establish a number of new monasteries under Irish leadership. (Within less than 200 years Irish monks founded about 120 new abbeys in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, parts of France and Northern Italy. Many were given Irish names, and a good few have survived the tests of time and still exist as active places of prayer and contemplation today.)
Then came the Normans and created a two-tier system in Ireland. They also brought with them a much harsher and doctrinal version of Christianity, sanctioned by Rome and deeply suspicious of the more down-to-Earth Celtic Church of the Irish. It took only a few decades for the Golden Age of Ireland to end, being replaced by a harsh system of rules, restrictions and more rules that were not much to the liking of the gregarious Celts.
The Normans were replaced by the even more arrogant English, and when Henry VIII decided to make himself head of a new church, Ireland became the place of strongest resistance, the part of the realm that also suffered most under the new regime. But despite all the hardship, wars and oppression, Ireland still produced the odd saint now and then, and a really amazing amount of scholars.
This went on until fairly recently. But since the "Cetic Tiger" has eaten most of our decency and common sense and left us sitting on a crock of gold (which we have quickly turned into a pile of debts) life in Ireland has changed in many ways. There are still excellent universities and more students than ever study there now. But unfortunately they are no longer renowned for their academic prowess and achievements. These days they are more noticed for binge drinking, the taking of drugs, and subsequently a number of accidents and crimes, often influenced by drink and drugs.
Of course the drinking and drug taking for which Ireland is meanwhile as infamous as it was famous for saints and scholars in the past, is not limited to students.
Far from it. Huge parts of the population are joining in, and subsequently pay the price for it. There is no weekend now without tragedy, and when I switch on the radio on a Sunday morning for the RTE news, there are always reports of killings, brawls, and several fatal traffic accidents.
(I have been wondering if RTE would have any news to report on a Sunday morning if there were not those weekly occurring tragedies...)
This morning was no difference: A stabbing with following murder investigation in Co. Galway, a number of fatal car crashes in the Midlands, a drug confiscation in Co. Cork and, last but not least, some more beatings and assaults in the ongoing gang war that haunts Dublin for years. Not my idea to begin a Sunday, but the blunt reality of the Emerald Isle in the early 21st century.
There are no more saints to be found here, and very few scholars. Their places have long been taken by - to cover only three letters - blaggards and bureaucrats, con men and criminals, drunkards a drug dealers.
The Emerald Islander
02 February 2008
Imbolc Shona
Sometimes people say that in Ireland clocks go differently, or are set after a different time. And even though this is often meant in a derogatory way, it is actually quite true in one particular sense. In ancient times, when the island was populated exclusively by Celtic tribes and ruled by the great clans (like the O'Neills) whose names we still mention with a sense of awe today, time was indeed measured differently and the months had different names and meanings. The old Celtic calendar, which is nowadays once again popular with traditionalists, begins with Samhain on November 1st.
Having the New Year coming in two months earlier than the rest of the world, the Celts in Ireland start every season with the same time advantage. Subsequently today we celebrate Imbolc (or Oimelc, as the Druids used to call it), the feast of the First Whisper of Spring, when the seeds begin to stir and Nature is getting ready for the beauty of springtime. We ourselves begin to open up to the light, and stir from our own hibernation. It is a good time to remind ourselves that we all have a share in the Divine.
I am in Dublin this week, and very early this morning (the traditional Celtic celebrations always start at night and involve either a fire or many candles) we celebrated the arrival of Spring in the old way with a small group of friends. Even the weather outside - which at present is atrocious - could not dampen our spirits, as we joined hands, looked into the light of the candles and listened to the words of the Bard:
In the afternoon, after the worst of the rain had ended and we had actually a short dry spell, our national Rugby team beat Italy at Croke Park in the opening match of this year's Six Nations' tournament 16:11.
Both sides scored a single try - Girvan Dempsey for Ireland and captain Sergio Parisse for Italy - but it was thanks to Ronan O'Gara's eleven points that the hosts eked out a barely deserved win, with almost the same team that beat Italy convincingly 51-24 in last season's tournament.
Nevertheless celebrations in Dublin went on all afternoon, evening and well into the night. So now, as I am getting ready for bed and some well-deserved rest, un-conducted male voice choirs of joyful Rugby fans - Guinness in hand - are still sending their a capella chants into the dark, wet and cold night. Ireland has won, and that is all that matters to them. Imbolc Shona!
The Emerald Islander
Having the New Year coming in two months earlier than the rest of the world, the Celts in Ireland start every season with the same time advantage. Subsequently today we celebrate Imbolc (or Oimelc, as the Druids used to call it), the feast of the First Whisper of Spring, when the seeds begin to stir and Nature is getting ready for the beauty of springtime. We ourselves begin to open up to the light, and stir from our own hibernation. It is a good time to remind ourselves that we all have a share in the Divine.
I am in Dublin this week, and very early this morning (the traditional Celtic celebrations always start at night and involve either a fire or many candles) we celebrated the arrival of Spring in the old way with a small group of friends. Even the weather outside - which at present is atrocious - could not dampen our spirits, as we joined hands, looked into the light of the candles and listened to the words of the Bard:
The light grows strong once more in the land.Let me take this opportunity to wish you all - wherever you are - Imbolc Shona (a very happy Spring), together with a pleasant weekend (weather-wise hopefully more pleasant than the situation in Dublin is right now).
Under the snow, the pulse of life quickens.
Feel the Earth beneath you,
the heartbeat of the waking Mother.
May we share in the great cycle of rebirth
And blossom with new life and creativity.
In the afternoon, after the worst of the rain had ended and we had actually a short dry spell, our national Rugby team beat Italy at Croke Park in the opening match of this year's Six Nations' tournament 16:11.
Both sides scored a single try - Girvan Dempsey for Ireland and captain Sergio Parisse for Italy - but it was thanks to Ronan O'Gara's eleven points that the hosts eked out a barely deserved win, with almost the same team that beat Italy convincingly 51-24 in last season's tournament.
Nevertheless celebrations in Dublin went on all afternoon, evening and well into the night. So now, as I am getting ready for bed and some well-deserved rest, un-conducted male voice choirs of joyful Rugby fans - Guinness in hand - are still sending their a capella chants into the dark, wet and cold night. Ireland has won, and that is all that matters to them. Imbolc Shona!
The Emerald Islander
01 February 2008
The Field is narrowing
There are still ten months to go until the US presidential election in November, but the field of potential candidates is narrowing fast.
After the Republican Primary in Florida earlier this week two further candidates of the GOP (the "Grand Old Party", as the Republicans tend to call themselves) decided to quit. They were former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson. Both had been beaten by the Florida voters decisively and decided they would not spend any more money on a contest they cannot win.
This gives now Senator John McCain of Arizona, a former naval officer, war hero and POW in North Vietnam, the chance to secure a nomination even before the national convention. Clearly the front runner now (as I predicted already three weeks ago), McCain has impressed many with his sincerity and independence, as he is one of very few Republicans who had the guts to stand up against the current administration with critical remarks - and get away with it. However, the question is if after eight years of blunder and ignorance from Bush and his cronies the American people want another Republican in the White House.
More likely is that they are yearning for a major change, and looking for the delivery of that to the Democratic party, where the race has now come down to a head- to-head contest between two junior Senators: Hillary Clinton from New York and Barack Obama from Illinois.
After the Democratic Primary in Florida, which will not have any influence on the selection, as their delegates have been banned over a row with the national leadership, former Senator John Edwards, running mate of John Kerry in 2004, dropped out of the race, after New Mexico's governor Bill Richardson, a former Energy Secretary under Bill Clinton, had quit already earlier.
This leaves now only the two front runners Clinton and Obama standing. So if the Democrats - as expected by many - will win the election, they will also make history, with putting either the first woman or the first coloured man into the White House.
On the Republican side the only man who could still hamper McCain's further progress is former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who is still polling quite strongly and came second in both South Carolina and Florida. Since he has accumulated quite a large fighting fund, he might still hang on for a while longer. But the question is: Would American voters be happy to send a Mormon into the White House...? It is not impossible, but quite doubtful.
Most likely "Super Tuesday" - this year held on February 5th - will clear the field even more. In 24 states all over the USA primaries and caucuses of both major parties will bring the decision a good bit closer to a nomination. Should Romney do badly in this massive test, he will fall by the wayside and leave the road open for McCain.
In the Democratic Party the contest will go right to the wire, as neither of the two remaining front runners is likely to quit at any time before the nomination convention. It will not have an easy task, and the selection of the running mate will be as crucial as the name of the main candidate itself. In this regard John Edwards should have a good change to be selected as vice-presidential candidate again. An Obama/Edwards ticket could have a real chance to win the elections and set the USA on a new course of reform, repair and repentance.
The Emerald Islander
After the Republican Primary in Florida earlier this week two further candidates of the GOP (the "Grand Old Party", as the Republicans tend to call themselves) decided to quit. They were former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson. Both had been beaten by the Florida voters decisively and decided they would not spend any more money on a contest they cannot win.
This gives now Senator John McCain of Arizona, a former naval officer, war hero and POW in North Vietnam, the chance to secure a nomination even before the national convention. Clearly the front runner now (as I predicted already three weeks ago), McCain has impressed many with his sincerity and independence, as he is one of very few Republicans who had the guts to stand up against the current administration with critical remarks - and get away with it. However, the question is if after eight years of blunder and ignorance from Bush and his cronies the American people want another Republican in the White House.
More likely is that they are yearning for a major change, and looking for the delivery of that to the Democratic party, where the race has now come down to a head- to-head contest between two junior Senators: Hillary Clinton from New York and Barack Obama from Illinois.
After the Democratic Primary in Florida, which will not have any influence on the selection, as their delegates have been banned over a row with the national leadership, former Senator John Edwards, running mate of John Kerry in 2004, dropped out of the race, after New Mexico's governor Bill Richardson, a former Energy Secretary under Bill Clinton, had quit already earlier.
This leaves now only the two front runners Clinton and Obama standing. So if the Democrats - as expected by many - will win the election, they will also make history, with putting either the first woman or the first coloured man into the White House.
On the Republican side the only man who could still hamper McCain's further progress is former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who is still polling quite strongly and came second in both South Carolina and Florida. Since he has accumulated quite a large fighting fund, he might still hang on for a while longer. But the question is: Would American voters be happy to send a Mormon into the White House...? It is not impossible, but quite doubtful.
Most likely "Super Tuesday" - this year held on February 5th - will clear the field even more. In 24 states all over the USA primaries and caucuses of both major parties will bring the decision a good bit closer to a nomination. Should Romney do badly in this massive test, he will fall by the wayside and leave the road open for McCain.
In the Democratic Party the contest will go right to the wire, as neither of the two remaining front runners is likely to quit at any time before the nomination convention. It will not have an easy task, and the selection of the running mate will be as crucial as the name of the main candidate itself. In this regard John Edwards should have a good change to be selected as vice-presidential candidate again. An Obama/Edwards ticket could have a real chance to win the elections and set the USA on a new course of reform, repair and repentance.
The Emerald Islander
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