Ed Walsh, former president of Limerick University, reckons that the Taoiseach's "socialist leanings" could frighten away US investment. He's also worried about the apparent drift in government enterprise policy, as well as proposals to introduce intrusive corporate regulations into legislation. According to the Irish Independent, Walsh fears "all of these developments were unlikely to be seen as encouraging in multinational boardrooms attempting to grapple with Ireland's rising cost-base" and "taken altogether, they combine to damage Ireland's reputation and add yet other incentives for Irish-based firms to explore the increasingly attractive options offered by central European or Asian locations".
Such craven nonsenses. Another example of a short-sighted, supine, race-to-the-bottom mentality. In a word, bollocks. Also, this thing about Bertie Ahern being a socialist just because he said so is deeply irritating. Why is he a socialist? Because he likes going for walks in his local public park? What kind of debased political and intellectual culture do we live in when something so utterly preposterous is taken seriously? Even those who know it is pure posturing prefer to give Ahern credit for being cute enough to initiate a tactical re-positioning as more "caring", rather than condemn him for either his dishonesty or stupidity, take your pick.
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