CAN one man do so much? It would appear so. Renewed problems in the North, in addition to our Presidency of the EU, have increased the workload of the Tanaiste, Dick Spring, to such an extent that there are those at home - and abroad - who say he should be relieved of some responsibility. It will not happen. Bar a collapse, he will continue with his gruelling schedule.
The last two weeks have been particularly hectic. Starting with Monday, July 8th, he was in Kerry but left for Dublin that evening and attended Government meetings all day Tuesday. On Wednesday, wearing his hat as President of the EU Foreign Ministers, he flew to Sarajevo where he met representatives of both governments and stayed overnight in the famous Holiday Inn beside Sniper Alley. On Thursday, he met Carl Bildt and Peter Fitzgerald, flew to Zagreb to meet the Croatians and then on to Belgrade for the Serbs. Late the same night, he arrived in Athens. On Friday 12th he met the Greeks and flew back to Cork that night.
On Saturday, the Tanaiste spent time in his constituency and on Sunday evening flew to Brussels. From 8 a.m. that Monday he attended briefings and chaired the General Affairs Council which resumed on Tuesday. That same day he chaired EU meetings with Hungary and Poland and held two press conferences before flying to Belfast for talks with George Mitchell and Sir, Patrick Mayhew.
On Tuesday night, he flew to Strasbourg and first thing Wednesday morning addressed the Parliament, took part in the debate and had a series of meetings before returning to Dublin that evening for discussions with the Turkish prime minister Tansu Ciller, followed by dinner in Iveagh House.
On Thursday, the Tanaiste was in London for the inter-governmental conference. Yesterday he was in Kerry and today leaves for the EU/ASEAN meeting in Jakarta. Whether he will continue on as planned to Australia and New Zealand remains to be seen... or will he make it back to Dublin for Thursday's special sitting of the Dail to discuss crime?
Luckily, he has had the Government jet at his disposal and has had two travelling companions, press officer Dan Mulhall and private secretary Niall Burgess.