Belfast Blogs.com

Acccording to the ever-gorgeous Government Press Office, our glorious leader is off to Noo Yawk later this month:The Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen TD, will undertake his first official trip to the United States next month [sic].He will visit New York for a series of engagements with key political and business leaders, as well as representatives of the Irish community.The highlights of the visit are expected to be a visit to the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday July 16th and a keynote address at the Wall Street 50 Dinner on Thursday 17th July.In his meetings, the Taoiseach is expected to discuss the global economicsituation, how to further develop the relationship between Ireland andAmerica and the issue of immigration reform and the undocumented Irish inthe US.So Cowen will continue the...

Yes, I know I wanted rid of Bertie Bung. Be careful what you wish for and all. I know.But still.A culchie coup d'etat?The BIFFO for Taoiseach we knew about. A man with no experience outside of politics running the country (into the ground) in a time of economic downturn. Fantastic.What we didn't see coming was the near total eradication of Dublin influence in the governing party at the executive table.With Bertie gone to the back benches, and Seamus Brennan jumping (for health reasons) before he was pushed, and his constituency colleague Tom Kitt bizarrely axed, the cabinet loses three Dublin ministers.And with Mary Hanafin demoted for her mishandling of the autism issue (and for being from Dublin), the capital loses further influence.In their place comes perennial non-achiever from...