THE "mother of all tribunals" started last Monday with little or no new revelations. A number of disclosures revolved around "cosy cartel" buster himself, Michael Lowry. Even his most loyal friends in here were apoplectic at the revelation by Ben Dunne and others as to alleged off-shore accounts.
Lowry may very well be able to explain this when he comes to give evidence to the tribunal but he did not reveal this information to the Dail in his famous "baring his soul" statement. He ended that speech with the sentence: "Let me assure all members that what they have heard is the truth, plain but not simple".
Ben Dunne's evidence also revealed a very "hands on" and personal relationship between him and the Taoiseach and other leading Fine Gael figures over a fairly extended period.
The graphic detail of Alan Dukes being wined and dined by Ben Dunne, resulting in large contributions and the Taoiseach "tip-toeing" up to Ben Dunne's Castleknock house, spoke volumes as to how present-day political parties are funded.
However, the main focus of the first few days' evidence was the alleged payments to Charlie Haughey. If these allegations are sustained, the myth that Haughey had endless wealth must be nailed for ever. The allegations raise extremely serious questions, and Haughey, who apparently has protested his innocence as far back as 1994, must come before the tribunal to counter them.
Because of what Ben Dunne had to say, there is no doubting that Bertie Ahern had no alternative other than to ado a Pontius Pilate" on his old friend. It remains to be seen whether or not this will limit the damage to Fianna Fail.
Bertie Ahern has been accused of being for the consensus, and sometimes indecisive, but he certainly disproved those accusations on this occasion. His action even surprised those in his own Parliamentary Party.
The tribunal evidence to date has shown that Ben Dunne is prepared to throw money around here, there and everywhere, even to the Labour Party but not to Fianna Fail (apart from alleged payments to Charlie Haughey).
This raises the question as to why Fianna Fail, over that period, did not receive anything. It had been widely known for some time that Ben Dunne and Charlie Haughey were quite close which would explain the alleged unorthodox payments to Mr Haughey.
Early on in the debate, when these issues were raised, it was suggested in the corridors that Dunne made it quite clear he would not cough up when approached by Fianna Fact because he was annoyed at the way in which his old friend Charlie had been dumped.
All in all, the damage to both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael could be considerable. Even the Labour Party has not come out of the tribunal unscathed.
Ben Dunne's account as to how Dick Spring collected the £50,000 cheque for Waterworld speaks volumes for the way in which our illustrious Tanaiste does business.
The Taoiseach came out on Sunday quite lamely in response to Bertie Ahern's salvo on the lunchtime news. Readers will recall Bertie suggested it would be totally irresponsible for the Taoiseach to call the election, thereby stopping the tribunal before he, the Taoiseach, and his Cabinet colleagues could be called as witnesses.
Bertie's move may well have stymied the Government's chance of maximising the damage for Fianna Fail. Now Bruton cannot be seen to endeavour to curtail questioning of himself and his Fine Gael colleagues before the tribunal, if he was to call an election.
The entire issue reflects very badly on the profession of politicians, and while we may complain and moan from time to time about the way in which we are treated by the media, there is no doubt that we bring a lot of this bad publicity on ourselves.
It is being said that both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will be damaged by the revelations and that the smaller parties may benefit. This would have the effect of leaving the general election result even more precarious.
The Fianna Fail ardfheis, by all accounts, was a rather tame affair. No doubt the impending Dunne revelations were hanging over the proceedings. All in all, Bertie Ahern's handling of the situation was sure-footed. It must have been particularly difficult for him to "hang his old Boss out to dry
Drapier heard that Brian Cowen stole the show with an extremely witty and well-delivered attack on what he called "The Three Amigos". Mary O'Rourke was a bit too sweet for Drapier's liking in her introductory remarks for Bertie.
One steps in (again) and another steps out. And so it was this week when Jim Mitchell announced his decision to go back into the fray with the Ceann Comhairle announcing his decision not to go forward again.
Both these decisions, although unconnected, were body blows to Bertie Ahern's and Mary Harney's desire to lead the next government. Mitchell, for some unknown reason, has changed his mind. Interestingly, he suggested that he and his colleague Ted Nealon had "done the figures" and that he came to the conclusion that Fine Gael and its Rainbow Coalition partners needed him back in the fray to win that seat in order to return.
Drapier is not altogether sure if the people from his constituency will accept that as a valid excuse. Drapier knows that if he decided to retire and then changed his mind for apparent party political reasons, his constituents would take a very dim view of it.
It is being suggested that Jim Mitchell was promised something by Bruton if he re-entered the race, and again, this would not be regarded as a valid reason. While people were surprised that Jim re-entered the fray, Drapier noted over the last number of weeks that Mr Mitchell seemed to be one of the most active "retiring" members.
His short-lived foray into the phone-tapping saga is a case in point. He certainly raised the hackles last week, not only of Fianna Failers, but indeed some of his own colleagues, for the way in which he bandied about the word "corruption".
Eyebrows were raised when the tribunal proceedings revealed Mitchell also got money from Dunne. It was felt by most, given the hiatus when Lowry got into trouble in the first place, that Mitchell should have put his hand up too. Everyone else did at the time.
The Ceann Comhairle brought great joy to Labour's Michael Ferris by announcing his retirement at the next election. There had been much speculation as to what he was going to do. If he stayed put (and was automatically re-elected, as is every Ceann Comhairle), Labour would lose the seat, but if he retired, Labour would, most likely, retain that seat.
At 74, the Ceann Comhairle obviously had had enough of the constant hassle of dealing with his unruly flock. He has had a good innings out of politics and it has often been said that he has been one of the luckiest people in politics for many a long year. Drapier wishes him well; he will be a hard act to follow for whoever is lucky enough to get the position of Ceann Comhairle.
Rumours were bouncing off the walls about an election being called. On each day of this week the fever reached a pitch that cannot be sustained for much longer. It's being said that John Bruton particularly is enjoying dangling not only the Opposition but indeed, some of his own party colleagues.
While that may be great fun for John Bruton, it's killing the rest of us. The Taoiseach at a recent Fine Gael bash stated he would call the election "in the interest of the country". Drapier is not fooled by that. He'll call the election whenever it is in the interest of him and his party colleagues, and all the time, as he and the Opposition are playing political games, the demands are mounting up.
The television news bulletin on Monday regarding the paramedics' strike should be a stark reminder to the Government to avoid smugness as regards the calling of the election. The pictures of paraplegics and the wife of a recently injured worker pleading with the Government to settle the strike were much more damning than any pickets mounted by the union involved.