BY now Dublin Matters, the new Fine Gael freesheet, should have reached all homes in the city. There are 11 editions to cover the Dublin constituencies, and it is destined to appear regularly - well, until after the election. Pages 1 and 4 are constituency-based with the local FG deputy and sometimes a running mate adorning the front pages two and three are common to all editions with articles on crime, our booming capital, the EU and so on.
But how many of the photos will be redundant before the election? Retiring deputy for Dublin Central Jim Mitchell graces one front page. Ironically. he is standing outside Semperit, which is also gone. Indeed FG may be gone entirely in that truncated constituency as many believe only Mitchell's legendary vote-getting skills secured the party a seat there at all.
But what other constituency edition is also a goner? Dublin South perhaps, where Alan Shatter, Olivia Mitchell and Maurice Manning are photographed in the grounds of Rathfarnham Castle. The convention hasn't been held there yet and the only certainty of the three appears to be Cllr Mitchell. Despite rumours that he will join Jim Mitchell in retirement, Deputy Shatter is refusing to comment.
The other deputies who appear on the covers of Dublin Matters look set to fight another day. Sean Barrett appears with the Taoiseach beside a Dun Laoghaire ferry, Austin Currie is shaking hands with a line of schoolboys, Brian Hayes is at the new Tallaght Hospital, Frances Fitzgerald and Joe Doyle pose outside a Protestant church in Rathgar. Mary Flaherty and Brendan Byrne stand in front of the Ballymun Towers, Gay Mitchell stands outside Crumlin Hospital. Michael Joe Cosgrave and Joan Maher have the boats in Howth marina as a backdrop, Richard Bruton bends dawn on the grass in front of the Casino in Marino and Nora Owen is outside a pub.
It's a swish production and the part's relatively new press officer, Niall O Muilleoir, should take a bow.