Labour's deputy leader Brendan Howlin wanted to know on the Dail's first day back after Christmas if the Government had given any consideration to the prohibition on chairpersons of Oireachtas committees standing for local election. The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern replied that they were examining the situation.
A pretty mundane matter you might think, with the Government on the brink of collapse. Not so. All politics are local, and the exact situation Howlin had in mind concerns one Jackie Healy-Rae, TD for Kerry South, member of Kerry County Council, chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government, possible European candidate and supporter of the minority Government. If Jackie wants to run again for the council, the Government is obviously not going to stop him. Is there a deal? Stay away from Europe and you can have the council, the committee chair and the Dail, Jackie.
