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The Man Who Brought Down Taoiseach And Exposed The Greed And Corruption At The Top Of Irish Politics

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Published in Tom Gilmartin: The Man Who Brought Down A Taoiseach And Exposed The Greed And Corruption At The Heart Of Irish Politics

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Tom Gilmartin: The Man Who Brought Down a Taoiseach and Exposed the Greed and Corruption at the Heart of Irish Politics

4.6 out of 5

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By John Mooney

Brian Cowen was the Taoiseach, or Prime Minister, of Ireland from 2008 to 2011. He was a member of the Fianna Fáil party, which had been in power for most of the previous century. Cowen's time in office was marked by the global financial crisis, which hit Ireland particularly hard. The country's banks collapsed, the property bubble burst, and unemployment soared. Cowen's government was widely criticized for its handling of the crisis, and he eventually resigned in 2011.

In his book, The Man Who Brought Down Taoiseach, John Mooney provides an insider's look at the events that led to Cowen's downfall. Mooney was a journalist for the Irish Independent newspaper during Cowen's time in office, and he had a front-row seat to the corruption and cronyism that pervaded Irish politics. Mooney's book is a gripping account of the downfall of a government, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in Irish politics, corruption, or the global financial crisis.

The Banking Crisis

The global financial crisis began in 2007 with the collapse of the subprime mortgage market in the United States. The crisis quickly spread to Europe, and Ireland was one of the countries hardest hit. The Irish banks had lent heavily to property developers during the boom years, and when the property bubble burst, the banks were left with billions of euros in bad loans. The government was forced to bail out the banks, and the cost to the taxpayer was enormous. The banking crisis plunged Ireland into a deep recession, and unemployment soared.

The Property Bubble

The property bubble in Ireland was one of the biggest in history. Prices for homes and apartments soared during the boom years, and many people became wealthy by speculating on property. However, the bubble eventually burst, and prices plummeted. Many people who had bought property at the height of the market found themselves in negative equity, owing more on their mortgages than their homes were worth. The collapse of the property bubble had a devastating impact on the Irish economy.

Cronyism

Cronyism is the practice of giving preferential treatment to friends and associates. It is a common problem in politics, and it was widespread in Ireland during Cowen's time in office. Cowen and his Fianna Fáil colleagues awarded lucrative contracts to their friends and supporters, and they often ignored the rules and regulations that were supposed to govern government spending. The cronyism that pervaded Irish politics contributed to the country's economic crisis.

The Media

The media played a vital role in exposing the corruption and cronyism that was taking place in Irish politics. Journalists from the Irish Independent, the Irish Times, and other newspapers investigated the government's handling of the banking crisis and the property bubble. They also exposed the cronyism that was taking place at the highest levels of government. The media's reporting helped to bring down Cowen's government and to hold those responsible for the economic crisis to account.

The Judiciary

The judiciary also played a vital role in holding the government to account. In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that the government's bank bailout was unconstitutional. The court's ruling forced the government to renegotiate the bailout with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. The judiciary's independence helped to protect the Irish people from the worst excesses of the government.

The Legacy Of Brian Cowen

Brian Cowen's legacy is one of failure. He presided over the worst economic crisis in Irish history, and he oversaw a government that was riddled with corruption and cronyism. Cowen's downfall was a direct result of his own incompetence and the greed and corruption that pervaded Irish politics. However, the events of Cowen's time in office also led to important reforms in Ireland. The media and the judiciary played a vital role in exposing the government's wrongng, and the Irish people voted out Fianna Fáil in the 2011 election. Ireland is now a more transparent and accountable democracy, and the legacy of Brian Cowen is a reminder of the importance of good governance.

Tom Gilmartin: The Man Who Brought Down a Taoiseach and Exposed the Greed and Corruption at the Heart of Irish Politics

4.6 out of 5