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FORMER TAOISEACH BERTIE Ahern has said he tried his “very best to do the right thing by the Irish people”, apologised for his mistakes but added that he got “a lot of things right”.
In his opening statement to the banking inquiry, Ahern said the last few years have been “extremely tough” on many families and added that it “breaks my heart”.
Ahern said he wished the recession had not happened but added that it was “disingenuous” to say all of the gains of the economic boom had been washed away.
Under questioning from Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty, Ahern admitted that parts of his opening statement had been taken word-for-word from his autobiography, saying his views have not changed.
The former Fianna Fáil leader told the Oireachtas committee: “With hindsight of course, I would have done things differently. I did make mistakes, I admit that but so does everyone who governs.
I know that during my time as Taoiseach, while I did not get everything right, I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say I did try my very best to do the right thing by the Irish people. Of course, I apologise for my mistakes, but I am also pleased that I did get a lot of things right.
He paid tribute to his successor Brian Cowen and the late former finance minister Brian Lenihan and said he admired the efforts of the current government.
“I think the Taoiseach, Minister Noonan and Minister Howlin have shown a lot of commitment and courage in tackling the financial crisis,” he said.
“I think one of the lessons we should all take from this crisis is that maybe our politics needs to be less partisan and that as a small island, we should all pull together.”
The last few years have been extremely tough on many ordinary families and that breaks my heart, but the work of our democratic political system must prevail and the problems we faced on a massive scale of unemployment, emigration and the banking crisis, are on track to being resolved.
Ahern said he “definitely” believed that the fundamentals of the Irish economy were sound when he handed over to Brian Cowen in May 2008.
He said he was not aware of any proposals to guarantee Irish banks at that stage.
Ahern also defended the huge increase in public spending between 2000 and 2008. He pointed out that only Estonia’s expenditure as a percentage of GDP was lower than Ireland’s in 2006 and 2007.
He said he believed “we were safe enough” to increase public expenditure but, in hindsight, he said:
I probably would have battened down the hatches in 1997 and said no to everything and therefore we would have been like Germany with huge budget surpluses.
Ahern told the inquiry that it became apparent to him in 2009 that the tax reliefs on property that his government had introduced sustained the housing bubble.
He later said the economy’s reliance on taxes from residential property – some 25 per cent of revenue – was “ghastly”.
On his contact with developers, he said Fianna Fáil “endeavoured to have good contacts with as many sectors as we could” and insisted:
I don’t believe that personally I had much interaction with property developers.
On his decision to resign in 2008, he said this was primarily influenced by the events surrounding the Mahon Tribunal at the time, adding:
I would have stayed on. Not like some former leaders until they were 80, but I certainly would have stayed on for another 18 months.
The former Fianna Fáil leader served as finance minister in the 1990s and as taoiseach between 1997 and 2008.
We’ll be posting updates here. You can watch the proceedings on the livestream above or follow @TJ_Politics for live updates.
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More western feminist nonsense.
Contrived outrage.
That last video was 10 hours of the same few streets.
I don’t know. I think it has gotten to a stage where feminists are a parody of themselves, so it’s kind of funny.
It’s just some sort of perverted ego buzz for western corporate feminists with too much time on their hands.
“This is how men react to seeing their girlfriend get catcalled”
Eh?
Actually, no…this is how the boyfriends of the particular women involved react to a meaningless social experiment under a politically correct spotlight in a contrived atmosphere.
Look at all the men on here up in arms, you tools haven’t a clue! Ever even lived in NY or LA? It’s mainly women who feel threatened by these morons who can be extremely imitating.
As a man its different, it can still happen but far less often. It’s not a ‘feminist’ thing, it’s genuinely a real problem in the States for women. I’ve seen it and at times I’ve even felt like I wanna throw a punch but you can’t.
Intimidating*
Eoin, let the lads have their fun. Sure it’s only those pesky ‘feminist’ being silly again
Eoin, as a man you’re far more likely to be assaulted on the street. Are women therefore “tools” who “haven’t a clue”?
All too often these videos are shown to be scams
Most of the feminist crap published re the pay gap, gender quotas, glass ceilings is bases on lies, half truths or lies of omission. Forgive me for being sceptical.
Usual crew of women haters out in force. Hard to take them seriously
Come on Journal, surely the story of a woman being assaulted in France by other women for having the ‘audacity’ to wear a bikini is more newsworthy.
Feminists aren’t the problem- ultra-feminists are. Unfortunately most influential women who get an audience tend to have ultra-feminist views
You’re hardly being sceptical Jimmy Jim, I would say your position is quite clear.
Catherine can you quote a comment that displays hatred of women, please?
Sean. I don’t buy it as genuine. Do you know what sceptical means?
I know exactly what sceptical means. Saying that most feminist emperical research that is published is craps is not being sceptical, it’s taking the pretty ignorant position that feminism is craps.
*crap
Pay gap and glass ceiling ‘empirical research’ as you so generously called it fails to take into account job type, hours worked, education, experience and salary negotiation to name just a few factors. Hence my scepticism. Also, I have my doubts about just how genuine someone’s reaction is with a camera on them. It wouldn’t serve much purpose if the lads had a meh attitude now would it?
It’s not being genourous calling something that it actually is Jimmy. If you’re not happy with the current published research than why not do some of your own to counter the hard data already compiled rather than voicing your unfounded “scepticism”, as you so generously call it.
It’s not. Why do you take research that fails to account for all factors as solid proof? I’m sceptical of all interest groups, feminism included, as you will see if you look at my comments regarding direct provision’s supposed problems. Open your eyes kid. The people pushing bogus stats do so to keep their funding and jobs. Here’s a feminist debunking the pay gap, you might prefer hearing it from her. https://youtu.be/58arQIr882w
Sorry, the comment above is intended for Sean.
See my reply below.
Nah, he is. You’re just a bigoted goober.
The “hard data” is subject to confirmation bias.
I wore an iron fist teeshirt and 3 women said love the shirt, can’t a nerdy man walk down the street in peace anymore
I’m sick of being looked at like a piece of meat
Let’s get one thing straight. There are things guys do that are inappropriate and annoy women. Equally, believe it or not, there are things women do that are the same. The amount of times my arse has been pinched by a complete stranger on a night out. And no ladies. Just cause I’m a guy doesn’t mean I enjoy it or don’t mind it.
Yes I’m allfor women getting the same opportunities and pay as their male counterparts. Yes I’m abhorred by the way most religious institutions view women. Yes I am disgusted by the way the courts deal with male perpetrators of sexual violence. Yes I understand that the media sees fit to ask a female politican about her clothes or describe her based on her body type would never happen to a man and it annoys me too.
But for the love of god, at this rate some people will be afraid to speak to a woman without fear of offending her. No, you are not the only gender who are noticed because of your looks and treated inappropriately because of this. Some people are just inappropriate and all genders have to deal with it.
I agree with most of what you said but the idea that make politicians don’t face criticisms for their appearance is laughable.
Trump, Cowen, Noonan, Tsipras, Obama and Trump to name a few.
Am I the only one struggling to see some of these “catcalls” as sexist, misogynistic, etc.? To me, some of these appear to be genuine compliments with no sexual undertones whatsoever. The PC Brigade is truly alive and well.
Well a lot of women don’t like it and want it go stop. But do continue to tell people how they should feel.
Joanna as un pc as this may be, if you don’t want to draw attention from men on the street, don’t wear really sexy clothing.
You actually can’t have it both ways, dress really “attractively” and complain when you “attract”.
Do you really think you are only going to attract the attention you’d like ?
How am I supposed to know what turns men into sexually charged morons? I’ve been harassed wearing jeans and a hoodie for heavens sake.
There you go. Some men have no standards……..
Joanna, you’ve just said not to tell people how to feel. what if a man feels like whistling at a woman?
Pretty much. All they want is sex and they don’t care how many people they annoy, they just keep trying until they get what they want. Kinda like door-to-door sales people.
Joanna I’m not saying it’s your responsibility to know or I’m not saying that it is right.
Everybody is entitled to dress as they wish and no one is entitled to make inappropriate advances that are rude or offensive.
What I am saying is that the more sexual you dress the more attention you will get, whether you like the particular attention or not.
You don’t need to be Einstein to work out the sexier you dress the more male attention you will gain and the more male attention you gain the higher the % will be unwanted or inappropriate attention.
Yes, let’s all listen to Johnny Shaft. Sounds reliable
Actually a woman can dress how she likes. It’s not an excuse for men to behave badly. This is the cry of the rapist. She was asking for it because of how she was dressed. No she wasn’t. No woman invites bad behaviour because of how she dresses. Stop blaming women because men want to behave badly . Men need to take responsibility for their own actions. Most men even if they are attracted will act in a civilised respectful manner. Cat calling is just obnoxious and intimidating and unnecessary. . Stop blaming women as per usual. Blame the men here they are the ones at fault. Or perhaps women should be forced to not walk down streets alone or cover up completely in burkas because men can’t control themselves ?
You make men sound terrible, Tom. You must hate men or something.
Are you really comparing somebody complimenting tattoos to a rapist? You absolute moron.
Although I completely disagree with Tom, can women seriously not distinguish a genuine passing compliment from seedy catcalling??
John if my name was David Drumm would I sound more reliable?
Touché Shafty. I stand down.
Wow Tom, what country and what century are you living in? It is exactly this line of thinking that men can’t help what they do if they can see a woman’s flesh that has women in some muslim countries wearing burkas/hijabs etc.
Are you really saying that the sight of a woman’s cleavage renders a man incapable of basic politeness? Making sexual comments to women you do not know is bloody rude (and a whole lot of other things) but apparently it’s a woman’s fault because you could see her flesh? Are you really saying men are that incapable of controlling themselves? What an utterly misandristic thing to say.
Jessica Valenti was moaning last week about not getting cat called enough anymore. Who does she blame for making her miss it? The Patriarchy, obvs
Well said Catherine!
Catherine where are you going with “blame” ?
“It’s not an excuse for men to behave badly. This is the cry of the rapist.”
Are you trying to say that I’m excusing rapists ?
It is a REALITY whether you like it or not that our sexual drive is one of our strongest, if you dress sexually attractive then you are going to sexually attract men. Do you disagree with that ?
You will not just attract the attention of the men you find attractive, is that really hard to grasp ?
Joanna I don’t hate men or women.
You can be attracted all you like Tom. Just don’t get obnoxious or violent about it. How is a woman supposed to know the intentions of a stranger shouting obscenities at her in the street ? Like your titties next move could be drag her down a lane way or follow her home . It’s Intimadting . Sexual attraction is not the same thing as
Eóin McAnaspie & SK, I don’t cat call anyone. I will put your inability to grasp what I’m saying down to your youth or general dumbness. I don’t argue that it’s right, where have I said it’s right or excusable ?
What I am talking about is realities, dressing sexually attractive will sexually attract, both desirable and undesirable results will be achieved.
Get off your fu*king high horses with your childish simplistic view.
What is right and wrong has little to do with what reality is, regardless how offensive you find reality
Hit reply too soon. Sexual attraction is a completely different thing to this . This is more about power and saying we are hiring to a woman passing in the street is trying to belittle her and turn her in to a stripper and nothing but a sex object for men. Women can dress nice even sexily but that does not turn them into nothing but sex objects . It does not mean they invite any bad behaviour . If any of the guys on ere can’t see that then they are a big problem. Calling people morons by the way people doesn’t drive home your point . It just shows your inability to debate properly or even at all. Resorting to name calling is the last desperate act of someone who doesn’t have an cogent argument to back up their mouth.
I have a Masters Degree, and I’m 30. So you can stick your “youth and general dumbness” comment.
So what you are saying is, you are just telling us what happens? Well done you. We know what happens. People don’t like it and want things to change. Cancer just happens, it’s not right or wrong. Should we stop trying to look for cures for it? Because that is basically what you are saying – stuff happens and we should accept it.
Well done Captain Obvious.
Also, it is super easy to just not comment on women (or anyone for that matter) that you see in the street and to teach others to do the same.
Ehh it’s New York.It ain’t here.When some fella looks at my girlfriends ass I take it as a complement.I smile and think ya,I f**k that ass.
catherine where have I excused comments about someones *titties*, let alone rape ?
“Sexual attraction is not the same thing as”
I am going to disagree with you there, it is out of the same sexual drive to procreate.
Some men don’t control this urge and I would never excuse that in any way.
I’m being accused of a position that I never took. Looking at the reality of a situation does not mean you agree with any aspect of it.
As usual though a lot of people want to rush for what the perceive as the high moral ground.
If you can, please quote me something I said that is inaccurate ?
Yes I can. If you dress a certain you can expect male attention. Yeah that may be true but it’s not invited attention no matter what you say. You see signals women are not sending. These woman weren’t dressed particularly sexily. One woman had a pants and top and another had a black dress that was revealing at all just abover her knees. These women were walking down the street minding their own business not sending off any signals . They didn’t want or were looking for any engagement with anyone let alone these men. It was unwarranted intrusive behaviour and intimidating . Men appear to see signals where there are none. That’s not the woman’s fault . It’s the men in questions fault. If a woman is interested she will smile make eye contact and you should be in no doubt. Here the woman were walking down the street. Things women do every day . Yet still they are harassed and are subjected to unwanted make attention. If your attracted grand . Get over it . Don’t force your attentions on a woman who does want them and has no idea of your intentions anyway as you are a complete stranger to her. It’s not that difficult .
S K, you have no bother criticising but you’re not much good at accepting it.
For someone with a masters you have a poor ability to grasp what is being said.
Show me where I said or implied “stuff happens and we should accept it”
30 & masters and still emotionally immature, going by your very emotional response.
If you are dish out insults be prepared to get the insults back
Catherine you are back with fault and blame, I never said it was a womans fault.
I said you will attract attention you don’t want, that’s the reality.
The inappropriate behavior from any person is 100% their own, but that doesn’t take from my point.
Invited attention is not the only attention you will get, that’s the reality, regardless whether you like it or not.
You can talk about fault and blame and it will always rest 100% with the individual that doesn’t understand personal boundaries but again if you go out this evening dressed sexually attractive you will get bot types of attention, desired and undesired.
Catherine you are all over the place, below you argue that the comment “nice tattoos” is inappropriate, If you think that is harassment you are over sensitive
@Tom
“Show me where I said or implied “stuff happens and we should accept it”” -
“You actually can’t have it both ways, dress really “attractively” and complain when you “attract”.”
“What I am talking about is realities, dressing sexually attractive will sexually attract, both desirable and undesirable results will be achieved…. What is right and wrong has little to do with what reality is, regardless how offensive you find reality ”
And you were the one to start insulting people and using offensive language so I think this comment by you – “If you are dish out insults be prepared to get the insults back” you probably meant for yourself?
S K ,
No where did I agree or do I agree with inappropriate behavior.
Where did I say anyone should accept it ?????????????
Where did I say I agree with inappropriate behavior ????????????
You said to me
“Wow Tom, what country and what century are you living in? It is exactly this line of thinking that men can’t help what they do if they can see a woman’s flesh that has women in some muslim countries wearing burkas/hijabs etc.
Are you really saying that the sight of a woman’s cleavage renders a man incapable of basic politeness? ”
As if I supported any of that, where did I support it ????????????????????
I stated simple facts, not arguing rights or wrongs of it,
If you dress attractively you will attract both desired and undesired attention….fact
Did I excuse anyone not being respectful.
I offended no one until I replied to both your and Eóin’s attack on me.
If you find the truth offensive, poor you.
John, to answer your question.. When I walk around my own neighbourhood and hear things like “I’d do her up the arse” and “Smile, luv” to “nice eyes” (all of which has been directed at me and many more besides), it’s all just a part of the same din of uninvited assessment of how I decorate their street.
Compliments are nice in the right context. I’d rather be left alone when I’m walking down the street minding my own business.
People may not like what I’ve said here but I’m sure you’ll feel free to explain away my thoughts and feelings on my own experiences.
By all means continue telling people what they should say.
Were all the commenters drunk?
Serious case of beer goggles.
I wonder how long it will take before that comment gets deleted. Heh.
As youtuber and clever lady shoe0nhead pointed out: it took her ten hours to get 3 minutes and most of the people who did catcall were minorities. Let’s open that can of worms social justice warriors.
Lol bbbbbut white people!!!
is this the latest fad crusade for hastagtavists?
A spade is a spade.
Old school Paul.
Respect!
Thats America.. Couldn’t see that happening in Dublin. Not at that rate anyway. Comment every two steps. Maybe thought wise but definently not verbal comments.
Not in my experience.
You wish, frumps.
If your going to cover your body in tattoos and wear clothes that show them, why would you find someone saying “nice tattoos” offensive ?
There is a huge difference in the comments, ranging from inappropriate to harmless.
It might not be pc to say but if you wear clothes that are skin tight and revealing, you will attract attention, wanted or not.
Not saying it excuses people making inappropriate comments.
We over estimate our elevation out of the animal kingdom.
Our most basic drives are still survival & procreation
That one was just way over the top. It’s like getting out of a Porche and someone saying nice car. Jesus, don’t get painted from head to toe if you don’t want people to comment!
in fairness that guy just said “nice tattoos” in a polite tone and kept walking.
Agreed, my mates mostly have tattoos ( men and women) some have complete sleeves. It’s a tattoo thing I guess, people just see and say “hey nice tattoos” or “how long did all of that take?” As for the rest of the women, Someone needs to tell them not everyone is out to F**k them.
I have to laugh at the shaved head guy being outraged, “you’re someone’s daughter” I’d say he does the same to other girls.
Nice tattoos is still an unwanted and uninvited comment. You get tattoos for yourself not for a guy to use as an ” in ” to try and engage with you when you clearly don’t want it. Why when a woman is walking down the street minding her own business not engaging with anyone do some interest that she is somehow sending off signals ? She not and she doesn’t. If you can’t that this woman does not want or invite your attention then don’t blame the woman here.
To others that comment was a friendly comment, if she doesn’t want to engage then don’t.
If everyone followed your logic it would be against the law to speak to anyone.
How do you know his comment was used as an “in” and not a comment from someone who genuinely was in to tattoos.
There is a world of a difference in that comment and a lot of the other comments on the video.
Catherine speaks for all women at all times, apparently
Catherine to use the” i got the tatoos for myself” is utter rubbish. tatoos are a statement, she has her whole arm tattooed , completly visible to the public, her statement is “look at me im different”bet it was what she thrived on when it was new to her to be compilmented on her tattoo. now the fun has gone out of it. she finds it annoying. well cover up.
Well women come up to my male friends too, they have a conversation about where they get them done etc. then they show each other their tattoos, again some kind of “tattoo thing”. It’s all fairly innocent, get your head out of the gutter. Catherine believe it or not if someone is complimenting you on something, it doesn’t always mean he wants an “in”. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think anyone should touch anyone or be disrespectful to a stranger, but for the most part a compliment shouldn’t be taken as some sinister attempt to get into your pants. Believe it or not there are friendly people out there Catherine who don’t see anything wrong with complimenting someone on the street.
First World problems…do we have to march against this too..let me get my comfortable shoes
I wish random people would compliment me everywhere I go. What a burden it must be to be young and attractive.
No you wouldn’t. Apparently, it’s comparable to rape now.
I used to be wolf whistled at, mostly by builders on scaffolding and to be really honest I always took it as a compliment. Sometimes I would stop, smile at them and even take a bow :)
The only thing that this video validated is that you can’t keep feminists happy no matter what you do. If men didn’t notice them they would be in a huff, if they did notice them they would accuse them of “eye rape” or “visual rape”. If a woman walks down the street and is wolf whistled at they give out, if her boyfriend gives out the feminists give out about the boyfriend.
It’s no wonder that men don’t take feminists seriously any more, they have gotten so outrageously outraged that they now are nothing more than a comedy act that does more harm to women’s rights then good.
“I like your tattoos”……..how really really sexist of him…someone call the political correctness police.
Pitifull excuse for journalism. This is trivial nonsence
I think I’m in love with Olivia.
my hand doesn’t respond to any catcalls
Next thing you know those guys will break into a chorus of ‘Darling Girl from Clare’.
Men don’t like it when their significant other get attention from other men. When it comes to other men touching their significant other usually result in the man wanting to touch the other man in more often than not the same and/or a reasonably stronger manner. It’s an important man rule in general we don’t need to be shown an experiment to prove it!
if my wife tells me she got cat called today, my reply is”cant blâme them you are an attractive woman after all”. Now if it happens in my présence, i find that to be lacking respect. plain and simple
hit shappens, that’s why it very rarely happens to women who are in the presence of a man… and consequently men rarely notice it happening. A lot of the comments here attest to the conflict that causes.
So it’s disrespectful if you’re about, but if you’re not with your wife, she’s fair game and she should suck it up? There’s logic in there somewhere…
suck what up?. she likes being comlimented on her beauty , happens a lot on the street or out with her friends.when we are out together,guys see we are a couple. so the Wolf whistles are a lot less appreciated. and as a couple not respectful. now do you see the Logic
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