Leinster House is disgraced by this gallery of rogues
PORTRAITS of disgraced taoisigh are a blot on Leinster House, it has been claimed.
A Labour senator has said that the paintings of Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern should be removed.
All three featured prominently in the damning conclusions of the Moriarty and Mahon tribunals.
And a Labour TD has gone even further and demanded that Ahern stop attending Presidential Council of State meetings.
Senator James Heffernan from Limerick said that it was a major embarrassment that they remained on the walls.
He said: ‘The gallery area forms a major part of the tours given to students, elderly, civic and business l eaders and indeed tourists alike.
‘To have them smiling down on all those who walk past them is not the kind of message that we need to give to those who visit Leinster House.
‘They are not the kind of role models that we need in this country.’
Senator Heffernan said he would like to see those accused by the report lose their pension entitlements and, while a deci- sion was being made, removing the portraits would send out ‘a strong, symbolic message’.
His colleague, Meath East TD Dominic Hannigan, said Bertie Ahern should ‘take another leaf from Haughey’s book’ and not attend Council of State meetings. Haughey stopped going after the Moriarty Tribunal found against him.
Mr Hannigan said: ‘This would save the country the embarrassment of a disgraced former taoiseach advising the President on important matters.’