Most Irish children have decided to dress as a young Bertie Ahern (pictured) while trick or treating this Halloween in the hope of getting lots of cash instead of sweets.

A Garda spokesman told of scenes of public indecency, assaults on the moral fibre of the nation and bizzarre and inappropriate use of fireworks as the elected representatives drove decent people off the streets.

“There is very little we can do about the politicians,” a Garda source said. “They are bitterly disappointed at the state of the economy and they are taking it out on the common folk.”

“They always cause trouble when they come back to their constituencies but Halloween brings out the worst in them,” he added.

Gardai spoke to Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern about criminalising politicians but he just smiled.

A Dail spokesman said it was a matter for individual politicians whether they claimed for fireworks on expenses.