Now we know what Dubya and Bertie talked about

We had wondered a little while back what the much hyped Belfast summit between Dubya, Tony, and Irish Taoiseach (PM) Bertie Ahern had achieved, other than using Northern Ireland as a prop for the Iraq war buildup. But yesterday's questions to Bertie in the Dail (Irish parliament) revealed that Bertie has acquired a very negative view of Congress's role in approving nominees for federal positions, which is the basis of his opposition to allowing the Dail a role in approving irish government nominees. Given that Dubya has been ranting recently about the difficulty of getting (two of) his judicial nominees confirmed, maybe he unloaded on Bertie about his problems. Here is the exchange where Bertie was being extremely frank about his views of the US process:

The Taoiseach: I do not agree with bringing [nominees] before committees. As I said yesterday, we find it difficult enough to bring legislation before committees, never mind establishing a Star Chamber such as that which operates in the United States where somebody is brought before a board and a crowd of backwoods people spend about a year trying to dig up something on the nominee to try to ridicule the nominee. I do not agree with this.

Mr. Boyle: Is the Taoiseach saying [Irish] Members are backwoodsmen?

Ms McManus: What does the Taoiseach mean by "backwoodsmen"? He should clarify what he means.
The Taoiseach should withdraw that comment.

Ms McManus: I do not think he should withdraw it before he clarifies what he means by "backwoods" person.

The Taoiseach: I am glad to explain. What happens in the US and it is well know is that when someone is before a board people working for the political system spend an endless amount of effort in trying to get something to throw at the person so that they can have a Star Chamber that goes on for weeks. Most of the time they end up appointing the person anyway.

Mr. G. Mitchell: The FBI does it for them.

The Taoiseach: I would not like to see this happening in Leinster House, ever.

Can a complaint from the US ambassador to Ireland be far behind? But wait, there is no ambassador.