DOES John Bruton know Dick Spring is a frightful dumperdriver? This ominous fact emerged at the ardfheis when Frank Quilter, North Kerry delegate, hotel owner and Ireland's chief campaigner for naturist beaches, revealed he had worked with Mr Spring in 1967 in England. The Tanaiste was the world's worst dumper driver. He used drive at fierce speed over very rough terrain. He tore England asunder with the dumper. I hope that the Taoiseach is aware of his qualities as a driver, warned Mr Quilter.
But it's not Labour that worries Fine Gael delegates. They reckon Mr Spring and Co will not jeopardise this Coalition harmony, having already done it once. No, it's Democratic Left that bugs them since, in the words of one Minister delegate, it is "full of socialists and communists on a mad public spending spree".
While another delegate, Mr Padraig O Concubair from North Clare, feels "uncomfortable" with the De Rossa led party he would be happy enough to stay with both Democratic Left and Labour "as long as they conduct themselves". To an uneasy degree, he feels the DL Labour tail is wagging the Fine Gael dog on economic matters.
"They are small in number and I don't like them putting a spoke in the wheel. I don't like the way they got the Budget they wanted," Mr O Concubair adds.
But, apart from a lurking suspicion about the magnitude of Democratic Left influence in spending matters in Government there is a widespread view among delegates that the party is in a highly disorganised state at grassroots level. "It is also full of cliques at this level. Until that is sorted out, we cannot move together as a party," he says.
One delegate, who wished to retain anonymity because of fear of local ostracism, says his branch was, riddled with internecine jealousies. Older office holders are reluctant to relinquish their titles, be it as humble as branch treasurer, to pave the way for young people, he says.
"As a result, you don't have enough young blood coming through in Fine Gael. The party at grassroots is not vibrant. Fianna Fail is better organised and is attracting younger people in a far stronger way than Fine Gael," he adds.
How then will the party perform in the next general election?
"The next election will be won and lost in Dublin. If we don't get out and act together in Dublin, we won't be in government again. We could, for example, take another seat in Dublin South Central if Gay Mitchell is prepared to divide up the territory and in Dublin South West we have a good chance of taking a seat, at Labour's expense. But the issues of crime, drugs and unemployment and the disadvantaged must be addressed," says Mr Tommy Morris.
Elections aside, law and order is an issue that these days considerably exercises the collective mind of Fine Gael delegates. They appear reasonably satisfied with the Government's hanging of crime, with some reservations about perceived reluctance among Labour and Democratic Left to changes in the bail laws.
"We can't have a guard on every road," says one delegate.
Mae Quinn, a councillor from Tipperary, represented a typical view among delegates that grievances among hepatitis C sufferers must be dealt with sympathetically. Delegates at the RDS had to pass through a picket of Hepatitis C victims who carried placards bearing their emotive plea for adequate assistance.
"The Minister for Health has underestimated the depth of feeling about the Hepatitis C problem. Sufferers are coming to me saying he is not doing enough. He told the ardfheis that he has been making progress and I hope that is so," Ms Quinn says.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach is loudly lauded by his followers for his handling of the peace process. The imposition of a ministerial ban on meetings with Sinn Fein representatives was the correct action, he said. Be tough on the IRA is the message; don't have truck with Gerry Adams until they reinstate the ceasefire, they say.
What if the IRA refuses to respond to the Taoiseach's demand on a ceasefire?
"Internment is an option," says one party member at the RDS. "Lock them up if needs be."
Will these Fine Gael delegates meet for their 70th ard fheis in Government? The Taoiseach has told them they are likely to fight an election before they converge again en famille. Many among the mass of middle aged faces at the ardfheis believe that the age profile of the party needs serious adjustment if they are to significantly improve on their present electoral standing.