It's All About The Size Of Your Stick

Oh, I thought you meant ELIZABETH Hurley...

Ireland has been on the receiving end of a concerted charm offensive over the past two weeks, so what do we make of it all?

Last week, The Queen [or Elizabeth Windsor for the anti-royalists] charmed the tweed pants of the Irish people, and managed to drop the jaw of Irish President Mary McAleese by muttering an Irish phrase.

Meanwhile, yesterday, American President Barack Obama sent Irish eyes into feverish merriment. His Dublin speech was so rousing, it made that one in the film Independence Day with the line "we shall not go quietly into the night…" [you know the one I mean] sound like John Tickle reading Portuguese stock market reports. 

As ever, timing is a crucial tightrope to navigate, and both these visits could not have come a better time for the embattled country. Not only that, but the tone of both these visits has been measured with astounding accuracy, keeping most of the easily put out noses safely in joint.

Even arch anti-royalists, Sinn Fein, could barely muster words of protest against The Queen's Irish sojourn. The party did release a number of black balloons, ahem, but they knew any loud efforts of opposition were sure to attract more wrath than they would invoke.

Barack Obamas' visit, on the other hand, capitalised on the already pro-democrat sentiment that is more or less Europe-wide. His electoral message "Yes we can" carried across the Atlantic in 2008 and part ownership of its sentiment was something the Irish people were audibly ecstatic to embrace.

But before we start hugging our western ruler posters too tightly, it's important to remember that the nations of the British Isles, and of Europe, have a responsibility.

That is a responsibility to hold leaders to account. To measure government by its efficacy and not its marketing. To ensure mistakes are paid for, that manifestos are followed to the letter, that laws are fair and implemented fairly, that institutions are worth the money we pay, and that we have our say and decide our own destinies.

Our civil awareness and activity is what has won - in only the last half of the last centaury, remember - one person one vote, free elections, innocence before guilt, accountability of politicians and basic human rights.

This was only possible by holding past leaders to the highest of standards, of a million cynical eyes guarding against corruption and of ensuring those in public office realised their power was a privilege and not a right.

Always remember that the size of the carrot is directly proportional to the size of the stick.