In just over four weeks, crowds will gather at the Farm Centre in Bluebell, Dublin, for the drama of counting the votes in the election for one of the most important posts in the country: president of the Irish Farmers Association. Unusually, there are four candidates instead of the usual two, and, as the PR system is used and the 900-plus branches have a vote each, a first-count declaration is not expected.
Partisan scenes are likely. The campaign, which has been in full swing for many months, is nothing if not cut throat. Some of the drama arises because the front runner, current vice-president John Dillon of Limerick, is not popular with the hierarchy at the Farm Centre, aka the permanent government, who would prefer a less anti-establishment figure. Although a deputy has never been elected before, Dillon has the support of the small farmers and the discontented and is very different from the suave and media-friendly outgoing president, Tom Parlon. The other candidates are Padraig Walshe of Laois, a former president of Macra na Feirme; John Boylan of Monaghan who is well-liked and hopes to be the first Ulsterman in the post; Raymond O'Malley, the big commercial beef producer from Co Louth.
Why the hot contest for a four-year job which is arduous, time-consuming and contentious? The president has to keep 80,000 members on side while battling away in Dublin and Brussels. Well, it is also prestigious, high profile and a path into mainstream politics. Former presidents T.J. Maher, Paddy Lane and Alan Gillis have become MEPs and Parlon has not ruled out a similar future. His politics are neither Fianna Fβil nor Fine Gael and it is said he would be available to either, should a nomination be offered. His problem as far as the Dβil is concerned is his constituency: Laois/Offaly. Brian Cowen and his colleagues John Moloney and Sean Fleming wouldn't welcome the competition and a similar situation exists in FG where, although Tom Enright is standing down, his daughter Olwyn has secured the nomination to run with sitting deputy Charlie Flanagan in the coming election. Europe could be a better bet.
Who needs an opposition?
It was being said around Leinster House on Tuesday that the Government was now turning into the opposition. When the Assets Covered Securities Bill, a complicated mechanism allowing credit institutions to borrow cheaply, came before the Finance Committee it was noted with astonishment that the Minister, Charlie McCreevy, had tabled 160 amendments to his own bill. The Opposition hadn't any. "I never saw the like of it," said one observer. "Normally there's five or six from a minister." All involved maintain they understand but say it is so complicated that technical changes are inevitable. The Opposition will propose its amendments later. Can't be too careful
Surely Joe Jacob has enough on his hands with the nuclear plan. And now this. FF deputy Ivor Callely tabled a question this week for a written answer, asking the Minister for Education "if he has satisfied himself that there are sufficient precautions and security measures in place in primary and secondary schools to deter terror attacks in any school".
Is the ASTI planning an assault or is Callely privy to a secret plot?
Legal Women
The installation of the second woman president of the Law Society, Elma Lynch, may be a signal that the coming year could be a big one for women in the law. Lynch, a Dublin solicitor, commenced her year of office last week; the last woman president of the prestigious society was Moya Quinlan in 1980. Next year's president will also be a woman: Geraldine Clark.
There is much speculation that the replacement for Justice Freddie Morris (who is retiring as president of the High Court) is likely to be Justice Susan Denham, who is greatly praised for her work on court reform.
There was talk that Denham might opt to stay put in the Supreme Court in the expectation of the top job, as Chief Justice, when Ronan Keane retires in two years, but it is felt that a term, however short, in the second-highest legal job in the land would be an asset.
Fellow Supreme Court Justice John Murray and High Court Justice Ricky Johnson are also mentioned as possibilities. The appointment will be decided by the Government shortly.
Bertie's peanuts tales
At our Embassy in Washington last week, the Taoiseach amused the gathering with tales of his youth during a celebration to mark the 150 years of missionary activities in the US by All Hallows College, Dublin. Bertie Ahern's father was the farm manager at the former seminary in Drumcondra and Bertie recounted how, having earned 10 shillings from smuggling, black marketeering and the sale of empty bottles, he spent every penny on peanuts and sat on the wall of the college eating them all. He hadn't been able to look at a peanut since but he jogs around the college grounds three times a week now.
Ambassador Sean O hUiginn told guests, including Senator Edward Kennedy and brothers Kevin and Raymond Boland, now bishops of Savannah and Kansas City, that over the years All Hallows has sent 1,500 priests to the US. The college president, Father Mark Noonan made a pitch for funding for the restoration of the library. It is part of the college known as Siberia, the Taoiseach recalled as he endorsed the project.
Pilgrim's quest
Ireland's Holy Wars - the Struggle for a Nation's Soul 1500-2000 by Marcus Tanner (a former foreign editor of the Independent in London) is the newest tome on the age-old problem. The press release from Yale University Press states that during 18 months of research the author "researched archives at the National Library in Dublin, walked with Apprentice Boys on their controversial annual marches, sat drinking with unionists in fiercely sectarian bars and talked with Catholic widows in the Bogside of Belfast". So plenty of knowledge there then.
From end to end
The Northern Secretary John Reid was a star turn at the SDLP conference in Newcastle, Co Down, last weekend. He told delegates how Hugh Smyth, leader of the PUP and a staunch Glasgow Rangers fan, asked if there was any chance that Reid - Catholic and Celtic fan - could supply him with a ticket the Old Firm game. "Maybe," said Reid, "but I might not be able to get you in at the right end, Hughie." "What if I re-designate?" asked Smyth.
To defer is human
Quidnunc has long been an admirer of the valiant efforts made by the denizens of the Law Library to service the various tribunals. Our best and brightest counsel are often seen straining every sinew scurrying from Flood to Moriarty, located at opposite ends of Dublin Castle.
The award for tribunal bi-location though must surely go to senior counsel Martin Hayden. Hayden has had the unenviable task of representing Ray Burke's builder chums Brennan and McGowan at the Flood tribunal for the past 18 months. But he is also one of two SCs engaged by the Irish Haemophilia Society at the Lindsay tribunal. Rushing from Flood to Blood would test the best but the legal eagle gets through the city traffic by trusty motorcycle.
Now even Hayden seems to be reaching the limits of his bi-location abilities. Last month, he asked Judge Alison Lindsay for an extra five weeks on behalf of the Society to deliver its final submission. Work aside, the legal team was occupied during the summer with "holiday commitments", he explained. This week he was singing the same tune at the Flood tribunal. In lawyer-speak, he had "a difficulty" with Mr Justice Feargus Flood's deadline for final submissions. The chairman obliged by putting the deadline back a month, to the end of December.
All of which goes to show that lawyers, although richer, are only human after all.
E-mail: rholohan@irish-times.ie