Michael Noonan took over as leader of Fine Gael a month ago and the temperature in Leinster House has been rising rapidly since. The Dail chamber has become rowdier; exchanges across the floor are more aggressive; the length of time devoted to the Order of Business has quadrupled; there are many more divisions and there is a very competitive atmosphere with a wittier and sharp-edged repartee. Indeed, one Government Minister muttered to Quidnunc this week: "We haven't been able to do a stroke of work at all since Noonan took over."
Well not quite, but things have changed. Noonan's initial announcement that FG would not accept corporate donations created shock waves and his success in ensuring open questioning on the Order of Business means the Government can be pulled up at every turn. In addition, his elevation has led Labour leader Ruairi Quinn to also adopt a more abrasive manner. Both have current issues they will not let up on; Fine Gael constantly presses the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, for a statement on the resignation of Ned O'Keeffe and Labour is endlessly pursuing its demand for legislation banning corporate donations.
The three big parties in the Dail are constantly attempting to score off each other. FG and Labour have adopted different policies on some issues and FG is less than pleased Labour has backed the Government's call for an Oireachtas Committee to investigate the phone company donation, particularly since FG was in government at the time the licence was granted.
Only FF and the PDs, some of whom have been heard to ask why, under the changed circumstances, there is no mechanism for questioning the Opposition, are not fighting. But if they fell out, there would be a general election and no one really wants that.