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FORMER TAOISEACH BERTIE Ahern has joked that the banking crisis was the reason he went grey in just six months.
Ahern made the comments on a visit to a school in Wales yesterday where he spoke about his life and achievements in politics.
The ex-Fianna Fail leader, who resigned in 2008, is in the UK as part of the InterAction Council conference taking place at Celtic Manor this week.
But Ahern also paid a visit to Risca Community Comprehensive School in Newport yesterday with the local newspaper, the South Wales Argus, reporting that he gave advice to students and told them the “sky is the limit”.
According to the paper, he told students: “Politics is everything. People think that politics is to do with Parliament but there’s politics in your schools, in your parents’ workplace, in the bus and train companies.
I realised when I was about 16 that we were not going to get a new pitch, a new dressing room unless I got involved in politics.
Ahern citied the peace agreement in Northern Ireland as his greatest achievement in politics, saying there was “nothing more important than that”.
But he said the hardest thing he had to tackle was the banking crisis and joked that it was the reason he went grey in just six months.
Ahern left office in May 2008, some months before the crisis firmly took hold and his successor Brian Cowen issued a blanket guarantee of the banking system in September 2008.
Ahern is expected to appear before the banking inquiry in late July to give evidence about the economic and banking policy pursued by his government during his 11 years as taoiseach.
Hat tip: Suzy Byrne
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This is the best form of praise I’ve seen for this deal yet.
Where`s the UK`s “Special relationship” with the US now?
@Pixie McMullen: Trump is a guy that seems to get his world news and analysis from Fox News. He’s best buddies with Nigel Farage.. because Nigel likes him.
Trump also views the EU as a trade competitor. So anything that weakens the EU in his opinion is good for the US. A bit like what his other buddy Vladimir Putin thinks about the EU too
He will do anything to help the EU fail.
@Dot Com: Speaking on behalf of his Russian masters
@michael: Yup
In fairness, the UK voted out, and the US is not a part, of the EU. UK-US relations are their problem now, and not our concern.
What a shame he doesnt understand its this deal or no deal. And if its no deal, the british economy and overall welfare will suffer dearly. If the british people reject the deal and go for the no deal so they can attempt to do all what the hard line brexiteers wished itll take less than a year before the remnants of their “empire” crumples to just england and wales, at which point their economy will have likely suffered massively . However, undoubtedly the work of people with their heads screwed on will reduce said damage somewhat, hopefully. And, despite not being qualified to say, id imagine thats a best case realistic scenario.
@Cheesy&Boring: don’t be so naive, no deal Brexit suits the US perfectly.
Don’t mind him his a Putin proxy
Looks like Putin is worried the brexit he orchestrated won’t be what he hoped it would be, he’s using his lackey to scaremonger.
@David Linehan: If you have a choice between conspiracy and cockup, go cockup. The Little Englanders are well capable of organising this disaster without input from abroad. Hell, BJ has been banging this drum since Putin was just out of the KGB…
@George Salter: I don’t think he’s taking about put in being the originator of the idea.
@David Linehan: Talk about tinfoil hat conspiracies Jesus, just read what you just posted. Don’t let a blind hatred for a person turn you into a nutjob.
Trump “I have just one question…Where is Europe again?”
Well duh…
So he read the 500 + report already
Yep. Thanks for that Donald
Ignoramus
@Johnny O Keeffe: ignoranus… Both stupid and an a’hole at the same time.
Now if we can just get the Irish government to do the same and criticise the deal and say it’s bad for N.I. and everyone in the UK then Arlene might just vote for it.
@Fr. Fintan Stack: if we say the deal means a united Ireland will never happen she’ll love the deal!
Trump doing what he’s told by Putin again, anything to try make the UK weaker so it benefits Putin.
I see all the Trump haters are out on day passes, however he’s correct. If the UK is still tied into EU regulations then that will have a serious impact on any trade deal with the US and other nations.
Trump a man who says it like it is.
No licking with the Donald.
Trump is correct about everything. It’s laughable to say his policies will bring no growth . Obama said the days of growth were over . Trump proved him wrong .
And western economies grow while being cleaner than those who refuse to sign up . Intentionally crippling yourself so an inferior competitor can gain ground on you is self destructive insanity
It will be alright. It’s like plasterparis, whatever the damage the money people will mold around this. And without understanding we will cheer as we always do
Trump should mind his own business the only thing Trump knows about is his golf course in Ireland and leave it that way
@Donal Carey: This from Trump a man who denies scientific research that says global warming is real?
His climate change opinions are delusional and dangerous, good lord. He doesn’t like the report so it’s meaningless apparently.
Trump would love boris to be PM.
What a fool.
The problem with Trump is his America first way of thinking he lied when he said he wanted to trade with UK just look at when he sided with Boeing against Bombardier it’s hard to know what Trump is thinking at any given time
have your say