Bertie is no longer buzzing.

Bertie Is interviewed in the Northside People

BERTIE Ahern says the buzz of politics has all but gone since he stepped down as Taoiseach. In a candid interview with Northside People, the former Government leader also explained how sitting on the backbenches doesn’t make him “tick”.
“Politics isn’t as big for me anymore,” he said. 

On Brian Cowen and the banks he says. 

Ahern admits it’s been a difficult debut for his successor Brian Cowen.
“It’s been a baptism of fire but he’s doing his best,” he told Northside People.
“It’s been a tough year where a lot of big calls have been made but both he and Brian Lenihan are doing their best to work our way out of this. They’re in the hot seat.
“We’re moving to the stage where the Government is nationalising the banks. Whether the term ‘nationalise’ is used or not doesn’t really matter when the Government has such a huge stake in the banks.  
“But I think the introduction of the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) will have a big part to play in getting our banks back functioning properly.”

I am not sure Brian Lenihan would agree on the term Nationalising of the banks.

And he seems to be spending his time. On Africa. Which might tie up with his trip to Nigeria 

But it seems that concentrating on local issues pales in comparison with his work for the World Economic Forum’s council on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. 
“We have these virtual meetings once a week, so I’m trying hard to stay on top of everything,” he said.
“I’m fairly good on Africa but I wouldn’t be too well up on other elements so I try to keep abreast of as much as possible.”

Possibly interesting or not. 

The 57-year-old has always maintained that he’ll stay on until the next general election. However, he revealed he would stand again if a snap election is called in the near future.

Anyway just for Bertie losing his buzz from Politics