Bertie Ahern’s criticism of tribunals a ‘bit rich’, says Creighton

Renua leader Lucinda Creighton has described criticisms of tribunals of inquiry made by former taoiseach Bertie Ahern as a "bit rich" given that Fianna Fáil was instrumental in their establishment.

“Given that many of the tribunals were [set up] under legislation passed by Fianna Fáil governments, or initiated by Fianna Fáil governments, it’s a bit rich for the former taoiseach to say he does not believe them or criticise the judge who presided over the Mahon tribunal,” she said.

She said that Mr Ahern’s appearance at the banking inquiry and subsequent radio interview with Miriam O’Callaghan brought home to her that Irish people can continue having inquiries into the past or they can change behaviour.

Ms Creighton was speaking to reporters at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal, following her participation in a debate on governance in politics.

In her own speech, she expressed the view that the period of retrospection represented by the banking inquiry might be drawing to an end.

"Ireland needs a politics that promotes the courage of its convictions now rather than endless inquiry into the failings of the past," she said.

Renua will launch a new policy paper on white collar crime later this week, she said, contending that public servants and politicians who fail in their duties should be held accountable for their failings.

Ms Creighton referred to recent crises and controversies surrounding Nama, the IBRC, the sacking of former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan, and Fine Gael's decision to nominate John McNulty for the Seanad byelection.

“The all derive from the same political culture that should have been replaced in 2011,” she said, “but was not,”

She dismissed the idea that Renua would find it difficult to distinguish itself from other new parties and alliances that have been formed since her party was established.

Sensible, truthful

She contended people would hear “sensible, truthful, honest, pragmatic solutions” from her Renua party.

“We will be upfront with people,” she said. “Some people won’t like what we have to say. We are already carving out a very distinct political identity.”

Former Fianna Fáil minister Noel Dempsey said a democratic revolution had been promised in 2011 but had not occurred.

“One would think, after all the pain and suffering the crisis caused, that those in charge, the politicians, would reform the system to avoid a repetition of the disaster.

“Sadly, apart from a lot of rhetoric about a democratic revolution and promises of reform made in election literature, little has really changed,” Mr Dempsey said.

Paradoxically, said Mr Dempsey, the six-year crisis between 2008 and 2014 had been the best example of how the system worked best “if the electoral system did not get in the way”.

“The sad thing is that it took a crisis to bring this about and it is even sadder that as soon as there were signs of the crisis receding and elections looming, the politicians reverted to form,” he said.

The final speaker of the session was Pat Leahy, political editor of the Sunday Business Post.

Bad habits

Mr Leahy warned about a return to bad habits, referring to recent political debates about pay restoration, social welfare increases, tax reductions and more expansive spending.

He said it seems the State was “returning to a situation that I thought everyone agreed was unsustainable.”