IN Leinster House on Thursday Bertie Ahern was the star of the day, Jackie Healy Rae the star of the corridors, Pat Rabbitte the star of the chamber and Mary Harney the star of Buswells where the PDs celebrated her becoming the first woman Tanaiste. It was noted that she had risen without the advantages of money, a family seat or even a spouse.
Rabbitte entertained the Dail now that the other wit and sparring partner, Michael McDowell, is sadly no longer with us. He noted that the sensitive touch of Brian Cowen had responsibility for children, that Kilgarvan and Kilcoole would have more influence in Government than the PDs and that his replacement, Bobby Molloy, had ranted and railed about the creation of the job he now held. Bobby just raised his hands, shrugged and smiled. Pat went on - he was sceptical about the Taoiseach's ability to deliver longer summers in South Kerry to meet JHR's demands and that John O'Donoghue must have left a terrible legacy there, judging by the defects and handicaps under which the people had laboured for so long. But he was going down there soon himself anyway.