By Elaine McFadden
elaine@letterkennypost.com
Donegal politicians have been paying their tributes and voicing their opinions on the unexpected resignation of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday, Wednesday.
The sudden resignation, although widely discussed, follows months of speculation over the Taoiseach’s personal finances and banking transactions at the Mahon Tribunal.
Party colleague Deputy Niall Blaney firstly acknowledged the particular progress that Donegal has enjoyed over the Taoiseach’s tenure.
“Bertie Ahern TD has served the country’s interests with a commitment and drive unequalled by anyone of his political generation” Deputy Blaney said.
“In Donegal we have seen the fruits of that labour in unprecedented infrastructural improvements, in educational advancements and in the shift in employment from manufacturing to high tech jobs and we stand greatly to benefit from his achievement.”
Letterkenny’s Dr. James McDaid, also a Fianna Fail TD, called the Taosieach a great leader of our time.
“It is very sad the way this has worked out,” Dr. McDaid commented “He was a great leader of our country and of Fianna Fail and while I had my differences with him, I never had anything personal against him.
“It is sad that a man who has achieved so much for this country has had to end his career like this.”
Fine Gael TD for Donegal North East Joe McHugh was also willing to credit Mr. Ahern’s contributions to Donegal in his time in office.
“I have to, in light of our close proximity to the North, acknowledge Bertie Ahern’s contribution to the Peace Process and how he carried the torch of his predecessors on the Anglo Irish agreement,” Deputy McHugh told the Letterkenny Post.
“However, he is not gone yet and I would be very insistent that the Taoiseach uses his trip to the US Senate and Congress to make up for his faux pas over the undocumented Irish, the last time he was there. He is still our primate and still the leader of our country for now.”
The Taoiseach will terminate his term in office on May 6th next and it is not yet known who will replace him.