Where taxpayers' money goes: Independent MEP Marian Harkin is not running for the Dáil, which has freed her up for other follies.
A press release arrives which boasts that Harkin "is canvassing hard for votes at European Parliament level in support of Ireland's Eurovision entry".
The performers of Ireland's entry, the Sligo-based group Dervish, of course come from Marian's home town, and she is determined to do her bit at European Parliament level to maximise the vote for Ireland. Marian has circularised over 700 MEPs in the parliament emphasising that, since they "cannot vote for their own countries' entry, a political favour is being sought which will, of course, be returned".
Harkin must have solved all her constituents' problems early this month to have such time on her hands.
Quote unquote
"They'll all fly straight back to Portlaoise . . ."
- A wag watching Fianna Fáil's release of doves for peace in Dublin yesterday
Breeding like rabbittes?
With Bertie Ahern upping the ante by becoming a grandfather to twins in the run-up to the election, his opponents have been involved in pre-emptive pictures of themselves carrying bundles of joy. Here, Pat Rabbitte borrows Cllr Terry O'Brien's twins, Mark and Millie. When Rabbitte took hold of the twins he marvelled at their placidity while commenting: "And none of them called Rocco either!"
How to get ahead
Green Party candidate Cllr Mary White has condemned the "shocking thuggery" of the vandals who left a burning car across the gateway of her Co Carlow home. However, she appeared to get a little carried away in her accompanying press release - where she is described as "Deputy White". Maybe she's just trying it on for size, to see how it sounds. If her next press release is signed "Minister White", we'll know for sure that she's getting ahead of herself.
Web of intrigue
For those who don't have time in the day to go surfing the web in search of political commentary, IrishElection.com has been running a daily round-up of the blogs. It has also been running a poll on this simple question: "Is there anything Bertie Ahern can say that will make you OK with him?"
As of yesterday, 72 per cent of visitors had said "no". But maybe Fianna Fáil should track down the 28 per cent who said "yes" to find out just what it is he needs to say.