Too much of the Cannes-do
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There is a dangerous undercurrent of scepticism about politicians. Once more last week Finance Minister Brian Lenihan reminded the country that it had been living beyond its means.
The banking crisis must not be confused with the mess in the public finances which were the result of a national spree which was coming back to cut us to the quick, he said.
The vast majority of the people on this island did not lose their heads, but because of the extravagance of an elite, never has so much been owed by so many because of the actions of so few.
The spend, spend, spend abandon has left us with a financial whirlwind.
Now the very Government which navigated us into these dire straits must summon what remains of its moral authority to get us out of this perfect storm.
Their credibility has taken another battering with the latest revelations concerning the lavish demands made on the public purse by current Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue, in his former role as Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister.
We knew that he and his wife ran up a bill of nearly €2,000 for a two-day stay in a five-star Parisian hotel.
We now know that he also spent €32,000 for a trip to the Cannes film festival.
He even interrupted his visit to fly back to Kerry for a constituency meeting before flying back again to the Cote D'Azur.
What kind of example is this setting? The little girls for whom there is now no money to pay for a cancer vaccine may not see this as the best value for taxpayers' money; not to mention the thalidomide survivors who will not be paid a Christmas bonus because the state coffers are empty.
Our Government has never needed the support of the public more than now. We are facing the worst financial crisis since the foundation of the State.
When it comes to belt-tightening, we need to see leadership by example, not exhibitions of excess. There is more to public office than five-star hotels and limousines. We have seen too much of the 'Cannes do' attitude.
