SEANAD SKETCH:THEY ENJOYED a great start, an unremarkable middle and a strong rally at the end. That makes it a good political year for the Seanad, writes MIRIAM LORD
Good, in terms of the Upper House, means getting noticed. Senators don’t look for much, apart from a bit more attention. They are the Princess Margaret of Irish political life: forever destined to languish in the shadow of the ruling Dáil, pretty powerless and cursed by delusions of adequacy while searching for recognition and relevance.
They may not get paid as much as their big brother in the Lower House, but they can run up expenses better than any TD. They may not have to suffer the same demands of office, but on the other hand, neither are they tied to a particular constituency.
The entire country is their playground (which is always a handy way with the expenses).
The 2008-2009 session will remain long in their memory. Who can forget that marathon back in October when Senators sat all through the night so they could pass the emergency bank guarantee Bill, bang on the button for the 8am news? Such dedication. Such application. Such stamina. So much attention.
They were elated for weeks. By coincidence, the man who figured large in their finest hour at the beginning of the year was on the scene yesterday to bookend their sterling efforts. At the same time as Senators were leaving Leinster House for the summer, the Minister for Finance was striding down the plinth past them, on his way to announce that the report of An Bord Snip Nua is to be published today.
The Senators were pleased with themselves after two days and two late-night sittings and a lot of attention. With the Dáil in recess, they provided the only show in town, and a little hissy-fit from the Greens added some spice.
If there was a regret among departing Senators – and this only applied to ones from the Opposition – it was that they will not be able to debate the report until September.
Fine Gael’s Seanad leader Frances Fitzgerald led the chorus of pleas yesterday morning for the House to sit a further week to ponder the recommendations. Never a chance, of course. As her colleagues fanned away from Kildare Street at teatime, their happy expressions indicated it is an inconvenience they will lightly bear.
As for Brian Lenihan, who endured with the Senators throughout their October ordeal despite being half blind because the glass fell out of his spectacles, the political grind is far from over.
When Brian let the Senators behind to marvel at their selflessness in the execution of duty, he marched into a torrid few months. Branded as part of a bungling leadership troika, he was variously lambasted for his lack of financial competence, budget mishaps and foot-in-mouth lapses.
But then something happened. Talk of the two Brians and Mary trio fizzled out. The country was still careering wildly off course, the bad news continued piling up, but it was only Brian Cowen and Mary Coughlan coming in for the worst flak. While they were blamed for everything, nothing seemed to be sticking to Brian Lenihan. Like The Man in the White Suit – the old movie hero who invented an indestructible stain-repelling fabric – Lenihan stands apart from his battle-scarred colleagues.
It was a confident and articulate Lenihan who faced reporters yesterday evening to pave the way for the grim news to come, although the grey hairs in his black hair told their own story of the last year. “What we have to do now is reflect as a nation, and make a further collective effort to address the problems that are there, and I believe we can do it and we will do it and we will emerge from it as a result a stronger, fitter and better economy.”
Two passing Fianna Fáil Senators stopped at the edge of the scrum and listened.
“The citizens know that the country is in a difficult position and want to have the information about what the right way to go forward is and I think its important to get that information out there . . . I would appeal to sectional groups to remember that their interests can’t be paramount here: it’s the overall national interest that has to prevail and that’s what this report is about.” Then he went on the six o’clock news and said it all again.
It looks like it’s going to be a very difficult summer for the Government. But will The Man in the White Suit continue on his way? At the end of the movie, the hero is undone by the trade unions and his wealthy employers. It will be intriguing to see how Brian Lenihan fares.
The road will be difficult – without the wise counsel of the Seanad to show him the right path.
House leader Donie Cassidy offered some hope, as he brought proceedings in the Upper House to a close. “We will be back in early September, when we can take up the difficulties the nation is experiencing to see how we can assist in that regard.”
Let’s hope the two Brians, and the rest of the Government can struggle on in the meantime, for all our sakes.