On Tuesday Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohoe, handed in his notice and told the cabinet he was off to take a job with the World Bank in Washington. Lacking the basic courtesy to wait until the next election to make this move, Donohoe says he will start at the World Bank on Monday!
He joins a growing number of senior Fine Gael politicians who can’t wait to ditch the Dáil and cash in on their political connections by snagging cushy jobs as advisors or lobbyists for tech companies, banks, investment funds, public relations companies and many more branches of the capitalist class.
Donohoe has cultivated an image over the years as some sort of down-to-earth, genial type. Not the typical dour, stern, uptight and obnoxious Fine Gael-er. ‘The Fine Gael Bertie’ is how his large fan club in the Irish media put it. His World Bank move, however, confirms that he is in reality just another careerist Irish politician, looking after number one. Not content with his nearly €220,000 plus annual salary as finance minister, he will more than double his money at the World Bank. A cool tax-free €545,000 a year between salary and expenses!
The Golden Circle Lives On
We all know that Ireland is ruled by a ‘Golden Circle’. No matter who you vote for, the circle never loses. As the influence of finance and tech capital has grown over the past number of decades there is a lot more ‘gold’ available to divvy out. And establishment politicians want their cut. The ‘good old days’ of businessmen rewarding faithful politicians with cash-filled brown envelopes in smoky pubs are long gone. They have clearly been replaced by the promise of jobs as ‘advisers’, ‘consultants’ or, now with Donohoe’s move to the World Bank, as ‘Chief Knowledge Officers’, whatever that is.
The path to getting your snout in the trough is to make sure you get into the Dáil at an early enough age; secure at least a junior minister role, but a spell in cabinet is much more lucrative; then cash out in your 40s or 50s and you’re guaranteed at least 20 years, or more, on the corporate gravy train.
Austerity Enforcer
Donohue will fit right in at the World Bank. This institution, along with the International Monetary Fund, is a pillar of the global system of capitalist oppression and brutality across the world.
Of course, Donohoe has a proven track record as an austerity enforcer during the infamous austerity government of 2011-16. He was happy to economically strangle the Irish working class during that time; so, he’ll be among friends as he financially strangles the poorest on the planet, with his World Bank hat on.
As revolutionary socialists we don’t wish him well. Whatever happens in the global economy in the coming years, and there are huge threats on the horizon, Pascal will cash in. No doubt flying in every so often to lecture us on ‘fiscal responsibility’ or some other capitalist obsession.
Fine Gael’s 15 years in government, with Donohoe at the heart of it, have been marked by an escalating housing catastrophe, brutal austerity, savage and worsening wealth inequalities, stagnant wages for hundreds of thousands of workers all of which have created the conditions for a violent far right movement to emerge. Some legacy!
Militant Left is committed to undoing the damage Pascal Donohoe, Fine Gael and the rest of the establishment parties are doing to our society. This is only possible by working for the socialist transformation of society. If you agree with us, get in touch.