Bertie Ahern: happy out or time out?

BERTIE AHERN: HAPPY OUT OR TIME OUT?What the judges say: 'Confident engagement with politics by a junior writer.A bit of an edge'

Bertie Ahern has been the Taoiseach since 1997, in a Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats coalition. The people of Ireland appeared to be satisfied with his Government until cracks started to appear on the Cabinet's varnished surface.

Minister Brian Cowen's second Budget has been brandished as "a Budget to buy votes" by the opposing parties. Although I have to say it was not a very good attempt to buy those votes. Giving a €1,000-a-year supplement for parents of each child six years or under isn't exactly election-winning, is it? Perhaps Richard Bruton of Fine Gael was correct in saying: "This new budget is like a Take That reunion. They're back, but without their cheeky little lead singer, who's off getting a solo career in Europe. They've got the same songs with a couple of new lyrics, but the meaning is still the same."

Basically, he is saying that the Government is repeating what it said in previous budgets without acting upon them.

The former minister for state Ivor Callely resigning hasn't been good news for it, either, especially under the circumstances that he failed to pay a construction company for painting his house. Not very clever, Mr Callely.

As time goes by it is looking increasingly likely that after the next general election we will be seeing a rainbow coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens. The three parties have been growing in popularity in newspaper polls, and together they are slowly edging their way to the most popular combination of parties.

If Bertie Ahern wishes to maintain his position he should hold an election sooner rather than later.

So, as it's looking increasingly like bye bye Bertie, ready for the rainbow, I say avoid the big debate and vote Independent and socialist.

... Michael Creed

... Check-It-Out, Gaelcholáiste

... Choilm, Ballincollig, Cork