Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has sparked a storm of coast-to-coast criticism in the US after his comments last week over the undocumented Irish.
From San Francisco to Boston and New York, the main Irish newspapers ran the story as their page one lead on Wednesday, March 26.
The Irish Herald in San Francisco pulled no punches; "Taoiseach Bertie Ahern Turns His Back on Reform for the Undocumented Irish."
The Irish Echo Said "Row Deepens, ILIR seeks talks after Ahern's Remarks." and The Irish Voice led with "SOS for Bertie Meeting" and an editorial by Niall O'Dowd which said; "Why Neither Side Wins"
All three newspapers featured an Op Ed by California lawyer Bart Murphy which blasted the Government's attitude. The Herald actually ran the Op-Ed on the front page. In it, Mr Murphy said;
"with all the subtlety of a head-butt, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern turned his government's back on supporting recent proposals put forward by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform."Irish American organizations have united in opposition to the Taoiseach's comments.
The uproar over the Taoiseach's comments is sure to overshadow his pending address to Congress on April 30.
17 comments:
"Power tends to corrupt," observed Lord Acton a century ago. Has Bertie been in power too long and grown too big for his britches?
I think we should all head to DC with our banners "we need your help Bertie" , "why turn your backs on your citizens" ,etc ,
to greet him when he is addressing congress, embrass him as by all accounts we must be a thorn in his side.
mary b
well said,the ilir should organise another demonstration in d.c but this time we'll not be lobbying the u.s gov but our own embarrasment of a 'leader'
I'd say the proof is in the Pudding. If the majority of Irish voters support Bertie's position, he'll get reelected. And we all know where the Irish voters stand regarding their undocumented countrymen in Yankeeland.
Has Bertie made any comment or response yet, or is he still suffering jetlag, or is he too busy trying to jog his memory for the Mahon Tribunal? It amazes me how he came out here, first class or on his own private jet, courtesy of taxes paid by our famiilies, and gave thousands of Irish people living here in the U.S. the proverbial slap in the face. Maybe not amazes me, but rather makes me want to vomit! Taoiseach, we await your response to the crap that came out of your gob when you came to visit us.
As a parent of an undocumented son I personally appreciate all the hard work the I.L.I.R. have done in the past few years in fighting for the Irish in the U.S. I attended the rally in April and heard Dermot Ahern state that the Irish Government has been and will continue to do everything in their power to support the Irish undocumented in the U.S. Instead they have chosen to abandon them.
I think Bertie is telling his own story when he speaks of sitting in bars as he appears to conduct a lot of his business in Fagans Bar in Drumcondra with his cronies.Plotting and scheeming his untold lies.!! They think by throwing a few dollars in the I.L.I.R.fund (when in actual fact what they contribute would hardly pay for Berties fare to Washington) it will keep them quiet for a while as that seems to be Berties policy.Keep up the good work as all us parents have faith in ye.
Hopefully Bertie will soon be ousted for all his lies and deceipt and then we can move forward in a favourable manner.
Again thanks to all for yere untold help an support.
Iam impressed with your Irish president is it any wonder the Irish are knowen the world over as drunken fools.If only we could get the mexican president to shaft his owen people the same way ,but i dont think he is as thick as your lot
The Patriot
While immigration reform is certainly a legislative priority in the US, there is a good chance that it may not happen for some time and its offerings to those here illegally may not be as generous as desired.
Despite the real possibility of inadequate legislation -- which would likely entail the return of many Irish back to Ireland -- no one seems to want to even consider a Plan B.
Why is there no widespread clamoring for a comprehensive package of aid and services to those needing to repatriate to Ireland? As bad as this may be for many there is a chance this may be the reality for many Irish in America in a few years. We can't "wish it" away.
Instead of investing all of your energy and resources into the whims of the fickle American polity, you should consider demanding the Irish government make provisions in case its sons and daughters have to return.
Great post by anonymous on March 31.
What contingency plan has the Irish government in place, if 20,000 undocumented Irish should return home. They should be asked that question in the Dáil, by the opposition .... in light of Bertie's statement in Washington.
Lou Ferpo
I think we're wasting way to much time talking about Bertie Ahern, although I agree that what he said was wrong and he should show his own citizens more support I dont feel he has any power to help with this problem we're having over here. I for one feel our energies need to be focused on the people with the real power, the people who have brought us this far. Due to the hard work of the ILIR and other groups the general view on immigration is changing.
I believe this is because the likes of Niall O'dowd and Kieran Staunton are using THERE power to EDUCATE people about this immigration problem and by doing so are moving us one step closer to the solution.So everyone stay focused and continue to support the ILIR and the friends of ILIR on Capital Hill, because these are the people that will make our dream a reality.
Continue to support ILIR and LEGALIZE THE IRISH.
Eils xox
There is no need to lobby Bertie anymore. He is resigning so lets put all our energy into the next leader and hope that they will help us.
LA Times: Scandal-hit Irish prime minister to resign
URL:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ireland3apr03,0,4774167.story
Bye, Bye, Bertie
Hey Bertie. If your reading this, its possible i suppose. You know your financial dealings were a little shady and you threatened Ireland's image as a country of rule and law well at least a better one than many.
But you still have an opportunity to put your weight into a deal for the Irish here and at home. Some maneuvering and finessing on your part with your next visit to DC could certainly lay the groundwork for such a deal. Maybe you believed there could not be an arrangement hammered out here but now the pressure is off you, there could be a another angle you could come from. The peace process in the North was looked at as being impossible.
I like to live my life by a quote by another famous Irish man
'Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.'
Yes i have failed miserably, but on many many more occasions have achieved immensely!! I'm sure you know that quote is from John F. Kennedy and here is another. Take from this what you will.
'Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope and, crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.’
Be remembered for daring to do something amazing for the people i kind of believe you give a damn about.
Sionara Mr. Ahern!
I hope your replacement remembers the Irish here in America!
I would love to hear from ILIR on what they think of Brian Cowan as Bertie's Successor???
Will he help us or hinder us??? Lets all hope that he will help.
Its great bertie has finaly gone this country is a mess .Very little work here for men all the jobs are part time cleaners,shop assaints or care minders.The garda have no control after 6 o clock in the evening they stay in the barricks it just about law less .The health care is a joke even if you have coverage there is not enough beds .And the peopl here think they are doing well god love them
The island
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