Letter to the Taoiseach By Barry McElduff

Barry McElduff

I found myself in a funny place on Monday.  I was reading an Irish Times editorial which was effectively praising Sinn Féin.  It said that Sinn Féin’s move “represents the penultimate piece of a democratic jigsaw” and it argued that “all that remains is for Ian Paisley and the Democratic Unionist Party to join with Sinn Féin and others in a power-sharing Executive.”

I have my own notions about democratic jigsaws (thirty-two counties and all that), but it was a welcome departure on the part of the Irish Times. 

For Ian’s part, he reckons that Sinn Féin has “more to do”.  Taoiseach, did he borrow that one from one of your old election slogans or what?  You would hate Ian to be singularly in charge, wouldn’t you?  You would want to put manners on him from time to time.  Which is where Martin comes in.

Can you imagine it if you were to give Michael McDowell free rein as Tanaiste.  Do you see your role as putting manners on McDowell? 

If you are anything like the delegates at the RDS, you will want me to get on with it.  What else is happening out there?

Wait to you hear this one.  Last June I had requested a meeting with the British Direct Rule Minister, Maria Eagle who currently has responsibility for Education in the Six Counties.  Seán Crowe and I tend to speak for Sinn Féin in respect of educational issues and we were particularly anxious to pin down this meeting.  Since last June.

My office in Omagh received a call on Tuesday morning.  Our meeting which was scheduled for Monday 12 February is being pulled.  Just like that.  We had agreed a draft agenda which was very comprehensive because of the huge changes which are taking place in terms of educational administration in the North.   These include a review of Irish Medium education, the Bain Report and new policy proposals for sustainable schools.

Thanks to Martin McGuinness, the abolition of academic selection and the Centre of Excellence for Autism to be located in Middletown, Co Armagh were also on the agenda.  As was developing education as an Area of Co-operation under the Good Friday Agreement.  I have spoken to concerned parents and to a whole range of public bodies and interest groups ahead of this crucial meeting.  But now it is being pulled with no alternative date offered.

You see, Taoiseach, this is the type of shenanigan which goes on in the North in the name of good governance and accountability.  I always thought that Michael Woods and Martin McGuinness worked particularly well together.  Certainly, Middletown is one product of their working together.  Anyway, I just thought I would tell you the craic about Maria pulling the meeting.

Finally, Taoiseach, if you see Nicky Kehoe over the weekend, will you pass on my appreciation to him for agreeing to host Carrickmore Under-14’s at the St Finbarr’s Club on Saturday afternoon ahead of the big NFL opener. Like yourself, I have always found Nicky to be very agreeable.

Believe it or not, I won’t get along myself, after all my big talk about meeting up with you in Fagan’s or Quinn’s ahead of the match.  I have no way out of an important family engagement.  These things happen occasionally.

Who would have imagined the ticket fever for a National Football League game?

Is mise le meas

Barry McElduff

NB - Bertie Ahern can be contacted on (00353) 1 6194020 or email [email protected].  Address: Office of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, Dublin 2