Post by Papa C. on Jul 3, 2008 15:31:00 GMT
FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has unveiled a new presidential-style website which hails his achievements in the peace process.
After months of bad publicity about his personal finances, he has opted to launch a hi-tech website containing an official biography about his "political skills", his "great triumph" in the peace process, and his role in tackling "key global issues" such as HIV/AIDS.
A Fianna Fail spokeswoman said she could not comment on whether the "personal website" was related to any ambitions Mr Ahern might have to run for the Irish presidency in 2011.
However, it is thought that the website, www.bertieahernoffice.org, may allow Mr Ahern to follow in the footsteps of his close friends Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, both of whom earn vast sums on the international after-dinner lecture circuit.
Speeches
It contains a speeches archive with details of his some of his most famous orations -- including his speech to the UK House of Commons last year and his speech to the US Congress last May.
For those not familiar with Irish politics, the site helpfully explains that Taoiseach means Prime Minister.
The biography section contains a three-minute video entitled 'The Path to Peace', which shows some of the bloodiest scenes of violence from the Troubles, such as Bloody Sunday in Derry and IRA bombings.
It tells viewers that 3,720 people were killed -- an average of 10 a month over 30 years -- and more than 47,000 injured.
But it quickly moves on to TV footage of the Downing Street Declaration in 1993; then to Mr Ahern's meetings with US President Bill Clinton in Belfast; and concludes with his historic appearance with Ian Paisley at the Battle of the Boyne site last May.
'Love, Life and Happiness' from Belfast-born singer Brian Kennedy also plays on the website, which uses a statesman-like photo of Mr Ahern staring into the distance outside the pillars of Government Buildings.
But it is at least four years old, having previously been used to illustrate the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis programmes in 2004 and 2005. The appearance of Mr Ahern's website has wrong-footed some political observers -- most notably the Libertas campaigner David Cochrane.
He posted a message on his politics.ie website giving seven reasons why the Office of Bertie Ahern site was a fake, including the lack of Fianna Fail logos, the lack of reference to Dublin Central and the absence of the TD title after his name.
"This is a foolish attempt to draw attention to a lazy pathetic imitation website," he wrote.
Google
However, Fianna Fail confirmed that it was Mr Ahern's official site and said it had been set up by him because he no longer had the use of his previous site -- the Department of the Taoiseach.
Mr Ahern will have to hope that the website becomes more widely recognised by Google.
Those who put in his name will get his Wikipedia entry; then a link to the Taoiseach Brian Cowen's biography; and then a link to Taoiseach Brian Cowen's website.
A lot done, more to do.
After months of bad publicity about his personal finances, he has opted to launch a hi-tech website containing an official biography about his "political skills", his "great triumph" in the peace process, and his role in tackling "key global issues" such as HIV/AIDS.
A Fianna Fail spokeswoman said she could not comment on whether the "personal website" was related to any ambitions Mr Ahern might have to run for the Irish presidency in 2011.
However, it is thought that the website, www.bertieahernoffice.org, may allow Mr Ahern to follow in the footsteps of his close friends Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, both of whom earn vast sums on the international after-dinner lecture circuit.
Speeches
It contains a speeches archive with details of his some of his most famous orations -- including his speech to the UK House of Commons last year and his speech to the US Congress last May.
For those not familiar with Irish politics, the site helpfully explains that Taoiseach means Prime Minister.
The biography section contains a three-minute video entitled 'The Path to Peace', which shows some of the bloodiest scenes of violence from the Troubles, such as Bloody Sunday in Derry and IRA bombings.
It tells viewers that 3,720 people were killed -- an average of 10 a month over 30 years -- and more than 47,000 injured.
But it quickly moves on to TV footage of the Downing Street Declaration in 1993; then to Mr Ahern's meetings with US President Bill Clinton in Belfast; and concludes with his historic appearance with Ian Paisley at the Battle of the Boyne site last May.
'Love, Life and Happiness' from Belfast-born singer Brian Kennedy also plays on the website, which uses a statesman-like photo of Mr Ahern staring into the distance outside the pillars of Government Buildings.
But it is at least four years old, having previously been used to illustrate the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis programmes in 2004 and 2005. The appearance of Mr Ahern's website has wrong-footed some political observers -- most notably the Libertas campaigner David Cochrane.
He posted a message on his politics.ie website giving seven reasons why the Office of Bertie Ahern site was a fake, including the lack of Fianna Fail logos, the lack of reference to Dublin Central and the absence of the TD title after his name.
"This is a foolish attempt to draw attention to a lazy pathetic imitation website," he wrote.
However, Fianna Fail confirmed that it was Mr Ahern's official site and said it had been set up by him because he no longer had the use of his previous site -- the Department of the Taoiseach.
Mr Ahern will have to hope that the website becomes more widely recognised by Google.
Those who put in his name will get his Wikipedia entry; then a link to the Taoiseach Brian Cowen's biography; and then a link to Taoiseach Brian Cowen's website.
A lot done, more to do.
