Politics: Bertie Ahern

Ireland's unbeloved Taoiseach Bertie Ahern uttered another "Bertie-ism" in November when he said that deferring pay rises for himself and other ministers would "only be playing smokes and daggers", conflating "smoke and mirrors" with "cloak and dagger" (and possibly "snakes and ladders").

Meanwhile, more details come to light of the "dig-out" in the 1990s when some of his "friends" gave him "loans". Choice quotes:

• "I was asked for cash and I said I would give cash. I think the reason for that is that Bertie is an extremely proud individual and if he got cheques he was going to rip them up." (Dave McKenna)
  
• "He said something like, 'Dermot, I must fix up that few quid with you', but I told him I didn't want it." (Dermot Carew, referring to IR£16,500.)
  
• Mr (Barry) English said he knew times weren't good for Mr Ahern, and as his own brother had gone through separation and divorce, his heart went out to him.
  
• Mr (Jim) Nugent retorted that he kept cash at home and always had done so to pay various bills.
  
• Maureen Gunne, widow of auctioneer Fintan Gunne, said she kept the Taoiseach's cheque for sentimental reasons and instead sent a donation for a similar amount to the Mater Hospital in memory of her late husband.
  
• "I'm a gatherer, rather than a scatterer. I was a collector, this was a goodwill gesture to a friend. It was a few quid to a friend, I was not looking for a receipt." (Charlie Chawke)
  

Oh, to have friends like that! Completely unrelated thought: is Ireland the most corrupt country in Europe?