Only 6 days into 2009, Brian Cowen is busy preparing us all for financial armageddon, but his predecessor, our Iar Thaoiseach is starting to make hay while the sun does not shine.

Before  Christmas we heard about the book deal – Richard Aldous is to be regarded as Ahern’s partner (no not that type!) in that venture – rather than ghost writer.  Also last month a FOI revealed Berties special Iar Taoiseach’s very special phone bill.

As you may remember Bertie broke his leg late last year and this seems to have scuppered a few plans for a speaking engagement or two in the USA. But news reaches Maman Poulet today that the gigs are back on!

At the end of February, the ‘honorable’ Bertie Ahern will speak at an event inaugurating the Molloy College
Irish Studies Institute. (honorable??? Ah we might need to do a bit of protocol research, never mind ponder on dishonorable..)

So from today I’m instituting a new project on Maman Poulet – documenting  Bertie Earners. All tips and comments are welcome.  Surely there might be a few other earners events happening that week in New York or the east coast?