Champagne Charlie Rides Again
As the turbo-charged economy he helped create teeters, Charlie McCreevy talks about medical cards for the aged, the Eircom shares debacle, explains why he wouldn't swap places with current Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.
Jason O'Toole, 11 Dec 2008
Charlie McCreevy has been Ireland’s man in Brussels for the past four years.
Before that, the colourful politician – dubbed ‘Champagne Charlie’ by the media – was one of the country’s longest serving Ministers for Finance, presiding over seven budgets during the boom times of the Celtic Tiger and leading the way towards a low tax, light regulation style of economy. Cynics have recently been saying that McCreevy got out at the right time, ultimately leaving others to take the brunt of the flak for the financial turmoil facing us today. He, however, is characteristically unrepentant, believing that the policies pursued were the right ones.
I met the 59-year-old European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services in his office at the Berlaymont building, which is the home of the European government in Brussels. It’s here McCreevy bases himself during the week, flying home most weekends to be with his family in County Kildare.
Getting into the Berlaymont isn't easy. Security is tight. After presenting your passport at the reception area, visitors then have to put their possessions through an airport scanner and walk through a metal detector, before getting patted down if the alarm is triggered. Afterwards, an assistant will usher the visitor to an elevator that can only be opened with a security pass.
Eventually, when I get in to see McCreevy, a member of his cabinet, Mary Kerrigan – a former journalist, barrister and one-time director of Celia Larkin’s company Beauty at the Blue Door – sits in on the interview and takes copious notes as we speak. I express my surprise at the arrangement, pointing out that even the Taoiseach didn’t bother having somebody sit in on the interviews he’d conducted for Hot Press – but Charlie insists.
I stick the recorder on and fire the questions anyway. He is, as ever, a colourful interviewee, who doesn’t shy away from expressing controversial opinions...
JASON O’TOOLE: Do you think there will be a second referendum on Lisbon next year?
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