|
|
Article: Spring surprise? (John Bruton elected Ireland's prime minister)
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- January 23, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
I HAVE been watching the Dail, the lower house of the Irish parliament, on and off for more than fifty years now, and I have never before seen in those precincts such an effusion of sweetness and light as accompanied the election as prime minister (Taoiseach) of John Bruton, head of the Fine Gael party. Partly this was due to the general relief at the ending of the parliamentary crisis that had been going on for more than a month--ever since the former ruling coalition broke up over the attorney general's protecting from extradition a priest wanted in Northern Ireland on charges of pedophilia. Even for the naturally acrimonious, a month of sustained confrontation was enough. ...