Since this e-zine is dedicated to linking Canada and Ireland it feels bound to comment on appearances between the leaders of the two countries. On the face of it, Canada displays a monstrous deficit, almost as large as its democratic deficit, and Ireland continues to surge ahead thanks to the largesse its taxpayers pay to make its Taoiseach look good. Canadians, notorious penny pinchers, contribute almost nothing to their Prime Minister's facial upkeep. In Ireland it all began with the introduction of television to cover debates in the Dail (Irish House of Commons) in 1994. Concerned that the bright lights necessary for the television cameras might show up blemishes, pimples, age and stress lines, not to mention hickies and nose hair, the Taoiseach's Department undertook to pay the costs of his make-up and the expense of professional cosmeticians.

The bill which taxpayers are forced to pay for all this nonsense is hair raising. Since becoming Taoiseach in 1997 Mr. Ahern has spent a staggering 167,000, according to the Irish Independent newspaper, "including 27,447 in the last year. Figures from his department reveal "he is spending 550 a week, almost double the minimum wage, on his appearance. He has spent over 70,000 on make-up since re-election in 2002."

The paper adds: "Mr Ahern's increasing age may lie behind the increased costs for last year. Quality of the products is likely to be at the upper end, although most of the outlay is for make-up artists' wages."

A spokesman for the Taoiseach said that professional make-up artists were necessary, and they had to be paid union rates, currently at 187 a day. Pity the poor Canadian Prime Minister. Nothing to conceal his blushes. Not a dime for make-up. Not a cent for anti-wrinkle creams. There is no justice.

It's a cruel, cruel world.

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