The third, but most comprehensive, book on last June's local and Euro elections was launched in Dublin by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on Tuesday. Sean Donnelly's Elections '99 All Kinds of Everything, a heavy tome if ever there was one, also includes the Northern Assembly results.
The Taoiseach assured the author that he could now rest easy. "It is definitely going to be another two-and-a-half years before he has another national election to chronicle." In these times of apathy and cynicism about the notion of politics through public service, it was great to have such a book. While Ahern was struck by the enthusiasm and belief of the candidates, the low turn-out was disturbing. "At a time when politics is achieving so much it is deeply ironic that the public standing of politics has never been lower."