Bertie "Out Of Touch With Reality" Says FF Leader

For a decade, Bertie Ahern was the dominant figure in Irish politics.

But now, it seems the former Taoiseach cannot even depend on people in his own party for public support.

A series of interviews given by Bertie Ahern in recent weeks has propelled him back into the headlines in Ireland.

A claim that he would have had a chance at winning the presidency if Fianna Fail had given him the opportunity to run raised eyebrows.

Then his description of grassroots members of the party as "useless good-for-nothings" really raised temperatures inside Fianna Fail.

And a fresh controversy over the level of expenses claimed by Bertie Ahern since he left office turned the public, many of whom blame Ahern's policies for the economic crisis, even more against him.

All of this with the Mahon Tribunal set to issue its final report in the coming weeks.

Things are not likely to get any better for Mr Ahern when it gives its verdicts on his personal finances.

The new Fianna Fail leadership has been eager to portray the image of a party rebuilding and renewing itself.

But the shadow of Ahern, and the furor over his public utterances, is making that much harder to do.

Leader Michael Martin, who served at cabinet with Mr Ahern for nearly a decade, is trying to put as much distance as he can between them.

He said Mr Ahern's belief that he could have been president was "ridiculous" and that he was "out of touch with reality" if he believed that people would have voted for him.

Mr Martin also hit out at comments made by Ahern in an upcoming TV documentary about the party's constituency structures.

Bertie Ahern said "A lot of people (cumainn members) had tea parties in the Seventies and Eighties and met to discuss the state of the world, including Ireland. But as far as building up the Fianna Fail vote in these areas, they were useless."

He singled out one Dublin inner city area for particular criticism saying the FF members there were "a bunch of useless good-for-nothings" when it came to getting him votes.

The remarks rankled with ordinary Fianna Fail supporters around the country, and Michael Martin was quick to take their side saying he was "appalled".

"I think it was a very unfair attack on party members," he said. "Members of cumainn are the lifeblood of politics, and we should be encouraging people."

Bertie Ahern has been making a living as an after-dinner speaker at high profile events around the world since he left office in 2008.

He's registered with the Washington Speakers Bureau, and he earns over $30,000 per appearance.

In 2009 alone, he spoke in Honduras, Dubai and here in New York.

But it emerged this week that Mr Ahern has also been taking full advantage of the generous expenses scheme afforded to former Taoisigh in Ireland despite the country's economic woes.

A former Taoiseach may employ two secretarial assistants for up to five years after leaving office and one indefinitely after that.

The maximum that may be paid to an assistant is €55,415 a year.

Ex-taoisigh are also entitled to claim for mobile phone use, may use a State car for official engagements only, retain a diplomatic passport and have VIP services at airports.

Since he stepped down in May 2008, Bertie Ahern has claimed €265,000 for "secretarial services" and €7,500 in mobile phone bills.

His claims were more than twice what former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds claimed for the same period, and almost 10 times as much as former Taoiseach John Bruton claimed.

FF leader Micheal Martin said he believed the expenses claimed by Bertie Ahern were too high.

"I think it should be reduced," he said.

"Previous taoisigh also received similar types of support in the aftermath of being taoiseach, but in the present set of circumstances, that is excessive."

Many people in Fianna Fail are angry at the continued high profile of Bertie Ahern, and the apparent lack of self-awareness being displayed by the former party leader.

"I don't know what he's at," one unnamed senior figure in the party told the Irish Independent.

"Every public utterance he makes digs it deeper every time. From the day he left the Dail, it's been one thing after another.

"The party members are very pissed off. It's coming up right across the country."

Things are set to get much worse before they get better for Mr Ahern.

The public already blame his policies for the mess the country is in, but despite this Mr Ahern steadfastly refuses to accept his share of responsibility in media interviews.

On top of this, the Mahon Tribunal will issue its final report in the coming weeks, giving its verdict on the controversial personal finances of Mr Ahern - the famous dig-outs and whip-rounds that eventually led to his resignation from office during the tribunal's public hearings.

The man once known as the Teflon Taoiseach for his ability to avoid scandals in his party affecting his own popularity is coming unstuck.