New Jobs, New Leaders, New Way Forward?

The news the other week that Brian Cowen was to succeed Bertie Ahern as both leader of Fianna Fail and Taoiseach came as little suprise. But he's not there yet, and still has his current positin as minister for finace to deal with.

It's in this position that an Taniste is making great headway as far as investment in the North goes. Sure Fianna Fail are making noises towards moving this side of the border, and Bertie himself played a great role in the Peace Process and all that jazz, but this new type of investment is something which, as a student, I'm quite looking forward to.

New jobs are to be created when big companies in the Republic can now establish branches in NI without compromising their tax position. In an ever challenging job market in the North, especially among graduates, this move I'm sure will be looked on with great favour among my peers.

As far as Nationalist sentiment goes as well, such a boost to NI's financial and corporate business structure will go a long way towards closing the financal gulf that would prove a little difficult if/when reunification occurs, as well as obviously helping to integrate infrastructure North and South of the border.

Another new leader on the cards is Peter Robinson, who is expected to take over Ian Paisley when he steps down in May. With his previous involvement with the Ulster Resistance Movement, God only knows what this will mean as far as good cross border relations goes, not to mention the nature of the Stormont exec itself.

Come May time, it looks as things will get a little more interesting on the political front. What this means for our future, has yet to be seen.

Bye bye Bertie...but what lies ahead?

A few days ago, An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced that he was to step down as both Taoiseach and Uachtaran of Fianna Fail.

The question now is, what happens next?

An Taniste Brian Cowen is already pretty much confirmed as Bertie's successor, which can only be a positive move for Fianna Fail as it shows continuity and unity of thought within the party, but it means losing the infamous "Teflon Taoiseach" who's legacy brought so much to the north.

It will be the 10 year anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement this Thursday. Of the original people involved with it, now only Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams will remain. How will this impact upon the political movement in the north? We'll just have to keep watching.

It's safe to say, however, that regardless of any controversies of late, Bertie achieved that which was thought to be impossible. He was a Taoiseach that made Unionists at ease. Who would have thought it? We only have to look at his developing personal relationship with Big Ian to see how approachable he was to the Unionist people.

Yet now their both gone.

Now I do think that Brian Cowen will do a fantastic job as well as far as relations with this side of the border goes. Yet with the shake-up due to happen in Stormont after the departure of the Big Man, coupled with the change of regime in Dail Eireann, it looks like it could be choppy waters ahead for the North-South relationship.

So long Bertie boy. Thanks for everything, at least as far as the six wee counties up here goes. Let's hope that others can follow your example