| Author (Person) | Cronin, David |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.10, No.1, 15.1.03 |
| Publication Date | 15/01/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 15/01/04 Ireland is now at the helm of the European Union's rotating six-month presidency. David Cronin profiles the country's main movers and shakersIreland is now at the helm of the European Union's rotating six-month presidency.
Born: September 1951, Dublin Education: Accounting, University College Dublin (UCD) Previous posts: Tánaiste (deputy premier, 1994); minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht (regions where Irish is spoken as mother tongue, 1994); minister for finance (1991-94); minister for industry and commerce (1993); minister for labour (1987-91) HAILING from a staunchly republican family (his father fought in the 1919-21 War of Independence from Britain), Ahern has been active in the country's largest party, Fianna Fáil, since tying election posters to lamp-posts at the age of 14. Last week he remarked that he has spent most of his life negotiating and is prepared to try and relaunch talks on the EU constitution following the aborted Brussels summit last month. A committed EU supporter, he has eschewed the more critical comments about the Brussels bureaucracy made by some of his cabinet. Nevertheless, he has clashed with more Euro-federalist heads of state and government on the desirability of harmonizing taxes, mainly because he is determined to protect Ireland's famously low rate of corporate taxation. Although figures in his party have been prosecuted for bribery, Ahern has generally been able to divert suspicion away from himself, earning the nickname "Teflon Taoiseach" .
Born: January 1960, OffalyEducation: Law, UCD; solicitor, Incorporated Law Society of IrelandPrevious political posts: minister for health and children (1997-2000); minister for transport, energy and communications (1993-94); minister for labour (1992-93)IAN Paisley, who heads the extremist Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, made a none-too-flattering remark in 2003 concerning Brian Cowen's appearance. According to Paisley, the Offaly man's lips are so thick because his mother used to glue them to punish disobedience.But what Cowen lacks in good looks is compensated for with intellect. Although he had little experience of international affairs, he absorbed the various dossiers in his current ministry with remarkable speed. He is also adept at understanding the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but became a bête noire for anti-war protestors last year for kowtowing to American pressure to use Shannon Airport as a refuelling stop for warplanes. And, while his intelligence is admired across the religious divide in Northern Ireland, his advisors sparked a furore in 2002 by drafting a document that labelled the Ulster Unionists as "seriously dysfunctional".
Education: Arts degree, Trinity College DublinPrevious posts: leader of Progressive Democrats since 1993; minister for environmental protection (1989-92)THE first Irish woman to lead a political party into a coalition government, Harney has a knack of proving the pundits wrong. The demise of her Progressive Democrats (PDs), which was originally formed by Fianna Fáil dissidents who split with that party due to its policy on Anglo-Irish relations, has long been predicted. Yet the 2002 general election saw it doubling its representation in Dáil Eireann, the lower house of parliament, from four to eight seats. Harney combines her position as number two with that of minister for trade, employment and enterprise, but has said that she wants a different portfolio if a cabinet reshuffle occurs.Although the PDs have consistently campaigned for a "Yes" vote in referenda on EU treaties, Harney has been sharply critical of the economic models favoured by the biggest member states. She once opined that Ireland is "spiritually" closer to Boston than Berlin as the Irish government favours a US-influenced approach of economic liberalization, low business tax and light regulation.
Born: September 1949, KildareEducation: Commerce, UCD; Institute of Chartered AccountantsPrevious political posts: minister for trade and tourism (1993-94); minister for social welfare (1992-93) McCREEVY is a loose cannon concerning EU relations. When Irish voters rejected the Nice Treaty in a2001 referendum, he said the movewas healthy from a democratic point of view as it indicated that the electorate could decide to ignore pleas (in this case to vote "Yes" ) from the political establishment. He has also accused EU counterparts of kicking him in the shins. This was after the 2001 formal reprimand (the first of its kind) he received for his "giveaway" budget that breached the Stability and Growth Pact. Ironically, he must now chair the debate on the pact's future.Given their broadly similar views on economic management, it is no surprise that he is politically close to Harney despite coming from different parties. He is also notable for being the first Irish minister to have obtained a divorce since a constitutional ban on remarrying was lifted in the 1990s.
Born: September 1949, KildareEducation: Commerce, UCD; Institute of Chartered AccountantsPrevious political posts: minister for trade and tourism (1993-94); minister for social welfare (1992-93) McCREEVY is a loose cannon concerning EU relations. When Irish voters rejected the Nice Treaty in a2001 referendum, he said the movewas healthy from a democratic point of view as it indicated that the electorate could decide to ignore pleas (in this case to vote "Yes" ) from the political establishment. He has also accused EU counterparts of kicking him in the shins. This was after the 2001 formal reprimand (the first of its kind) he received for his "giveaway" budget that breached the Stability and Growth Pact. Ironically, he must now chair the debate on the pact's future.Given their broadly similar views on economic management, it is no surprise that he is politically close to Harney despite coming from different parties. He is also notable for being the first Irish minister to have obtained a divorce since a constitutional ban on remarrying was lifted in the 1990s.
Born: May 1951, DublinEducation: Economics and politics, UCD; barrister, King's InnsPrevious posts: Attorney-general (1999-2002); Chairman of Progressive Democrats (1989-1992) McDOWELL's tendency to appear arrogant in interviews has meant that many Irish people see him as representing everything they dislike about the Progressive Democrats (PDs).But he has been given the credit for the party's 2002 election success. His slogan, "One Party Government - No Thanks" , implied that the PDs were needed to keep an eye on Fianna Fáil.Foes have described him as "the Rottweiler" and "the biggest political crybaby in Irish politics", and he recently accused some journalists of bribing the police. He also stirred controversy by saying the nationalist Sinn Féin party is funded by organized crime. On the EU, McDowell has insisted that harmonization of legal codes must not endanger the common law system in the UK and Ireland. He is determined to achieve the breakthrough on asylum dossiers that eluded the Italian presidency. Profile of Ireland's key Government Ministers. |
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| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
| Countries / Regions | Ireland |
