BEING in Government leads to many new experiences. Democratic Left had the delightful experience of holding its annual conference the leafy suburb of Dun
Laoghaire. The salubrious surrounds of the Marine Hotel must have taken some getting used to by these recycled lefties.
By all accounts, the party organisers were required to grin and bear the consequences of their mistake in arranging this conference for the weekend of the English Cup Final. Even in Democratic Left, whether one was a Man United supporter or an ABU (anyone but United), the meandering ideologies of Proinsias De Rossa and company played second fiddle to Keane and Co.
It must also have been a new experience for Proinsias to be subjected to the heckling that greeted him on his entrance to the Marine Hotel. Placard carrying protesters led by Militant Left's Joe Higgins (he of water charges fame), by all accounts, gave the Democratic Left Leader a hard time.
Such an experience is normally reserved for the establishment parties of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.
This little episode is yet another reminder of the cosiness in the "Government bed" of Democratic Left with its two partners, Fine Gael and Labour. Mary O'Rourke may not have been too far from the truth when she was reported to have advised the Government lads and lassies to "enjoy it while it lasts".
Drapier was struck by the conference slogan used by Democratic Left. "For People Not Power". Drapier was wondering did it mean for Democratic Left people? When one looks at how Democratic Left has "looked after their own" one could validly ask, what pe6plb?
A recent article in another journal certainly illustrated how Proinsias and Co have looked after all their friends and party supporters. The "famous five" appointed by Proinsias to "look after" his and Democratic Left's interests is a case in point.
No Cork comedy from Kathleen Lynch can disguise the impending election difficulty facing the party.
Drapier feels DL's electoral prospects may be just a poor as those of Labour. Drapier was reminded of this when, in an interview from the conference, a delegate from Dublin West was interviewed. Drapier thought to himself, "isn't that the constituency where, in a recent by election, Democratic Left funked it?"
OVER the last week or so, Maire Geoghegan Quinn certainly has "bogged the airways", mainly due (to the launch of her Green Diamond novel.
Her interview with Emily O'Reilly in the Sunday Business Post was certainly food for thought for a lot of people, particularly those of her Fianna Fail colleagues with whom, as she admitted in the interview, she had neglected to curry favour, thereby losing the leadership battle with Bertie.
But what was most interesting in her interview was her laying down a marker (as her former leader Albert Reynolds once stated, "a line in the sand") in connection with a possible deal after the next election with Labour.
Mire, in a not so subtle way, was advising Labour that, if she had anything to do with it, Fianna Fail would have difficulty getting back together with it.
Drapier wonders was there a subtle (or not so subtle) message for Bertle Ahern in all of this. Drapier thinks it's funny how things have changed. Not so long ago, Fianna Fail was referring to "temporary little arrangements" with the PDs and openly suggesting its time with Labour could go into the next century.
Now, Labour is the baddie as far as Fianna Fail is concerned and it is "love bombing" the PDs.
There was a lot of mirth among Fianna Filers at what they saw as a demotion of their bete noire, Fergus Finlay. Jokes, such as "Dick and Co snuffed his penny candle", abound. But Drapier advises them not to be too joyous. They may very well encounter more of Finlay's influence in his new position.
Yet again, Niamh Bhreathnach finds herself in the eye of a storm. Readers are probably well versed in the expression "it fell off the back of a lorry". Would you believe it, the Minister used this as an excuse for the missing exam package which was found by a turf cutter in Roscommon.
There was much mirth in here, despite the seriousness of the matter for the students involved. Drapier heard the phrase "appalling vista" being used sometime back in connection with the possibility of re-examining all the Leaving Cert results of last year.
Drapier wonders if anything else can go wrong in the Department's handling of the exam situation and if a complete overhaul of the system is not warranted.
OUR colleague Alan Shatter is at it again. The trail-blazer as regards legislation brought forward a Bill last week which he stated was needed to take care of an anomaly caused by a recent legislative change in the requirement to give notice of intention to marry.
Alan went "hell for leather" with the interviews only to be (eventually) slapped down by Mervyn Taylor, the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, who was abroad when Shatter's Bill emerged. It will be interesting to see how this one develops.
Alan is not the type who would admit that he is wrong and take it lying down. The fact that Alan is a Government backbencher of a different party from the Minister raises further questions.
Being a Government backbencher, Shatter does not have an opportunity to use Private Members' (or Opposition) time, so will the Government accept the Bill and take it in its own time? Either Shatter or Taylor is wrong, but which of them?
Drapier noticed a camera crew in some unusual places this week and last week. Apparently, in an effort to improve our image, it has been decided to do a video for general distribution showing how hard we work.
Some of our colleagues have decided enough is enough and we should fight back against the poor image being constantly trotted out in the media about us. Drapier is not altogether sure if this is a good idea. Maybe the very making of such a video will make the media and consequently the public more cynical about us. You can't win.
Drapier missed the student protest regarding their removal from the National College of Art (within the precincts of Leinster House) to facilitate the provision of a new creche for the benefit of Oireachtas Members and Leinster House staff. If it's any consolation to them, Drapier shares their views.
He knows he is speaking for quite a number of his colleagues when he questions the removal of the students but more particularly the spending of over £200,000 on this facility.
Of course, in this climate of political correctness, neither Drapier nor any of his colleagues who feel like this is prepared to go public.
Rumour has it that the members of the Women's Committee used their opportunity to twist, the arm of Finance Minister Rear Quinine to convince him to provide the required money. And what was their opportunity, readers may ask? Rear had just become the proud father of a bouncing baby when the decision was made.
The event of the week took place in the RDS. Fianna Fail, celebrating its 70th birthday, pulled out all the stops by all accounts. The two Presidential aspirants, Albert and Charlie Haughey, were present and from what Drapier hears, if the "clap o meter" is any thing to go by, Charlie would win it by a short head.