`Well, you fellows have some notion of yourselves." That was the opening salvo. Drapier sighed, but only to himself. He was in his local but felt that at least in August he was entitled to time off.
"What is it this time?" he asked with a certain weariness.
"That proposal of Pat Rabbitte that we are going to have wall-to-wall coverage of the Dail, a whole channel dedicated to non-stop coverage when this new digital thing comes in."
Drapier relaxed. At least it wasn't going to be expenses, or not being close to the grassroots or taxes being too high.
"It's a very good idea," said Drapier. "I'm all for it."
"It's bad enough having Teilifis na Gaeilge, that nobody watches, without another turn-off channel. Who do you think wants to watch that sort of thing? Oireachtas Report is bad enough."
Now Drapier happened to know his pal was a regular watcher of Oireachtas Report, at least when it was broadcast at a social hour. And Drapier thinks Pat Rabbitte's suggestion is an admirable one.
For a start it would cost little enough. With 60 or so channels available, the televising of the national parliament is at least as worthwhile as wall-to-wall wrestling or bowls or cartoons which are the staple diet of so many channels in other countries. But it goes deeper than that. People are entitled to see and hear what goes on in their own parliament.
Some do this by visiting Leinster House, but for obvious reasons only a few can do this. Most people have to rely on what is filtered to them through the newspapers, and by definition that is only a fraction of what happens, and not always a representative fraction.
So in Drapier's view it would be an extension of democracy to enable people to see all aspects of Oireachtas work - Dail, Seanad, committees - uncensored, unedited and see it in their own homes. It would mean farmers would have full access to all debates on agriculture, teachers and parents to education and so forth. It will be bad for the soundbite and good for the person who wants to get a fuller picture. And in a real sense it could be a direct link between citizens and their parliament.
Drapier knew he had won that argument and he knew his friend would try a different tack. Which he did. "That's fine in theory, I grant you that. But isn't the quality of parliamentary performance gone down an awful lot on what it used to be?"
Which to Drapier is a bit like saying rugby doesn't have a Jack Kyle any more and what about Christy Ring or Sean Purcell? The giants of the past and all that. "No," said Drapier. "The quality of parliamentary performance is not what it used to be. It never was. In fact, the quality today is probably higher than ever before."
Drapier had surprised even himself, but on reflection he agreed with himself. Speeches today are generally shorter, generally better researched, partly because the research is available and partly because most issues are more technical. But Drapier has no doubt that our TDs and senators are better informed on a wide range of issues today than at any previous time.
The committees have helped enormously in this regard, but it's also the nature of the age. People are in a hurry, they have no time for rhetoric or blather, and if you are not informed or if you are chancing your arm, then you will be ignored or put down.
"As for the greats of the past, every age had them, but they were the exception rather than the rule. Most politicians are sober workaday types, not matinee idols or silver-tongued orators. And thank God," said Drapier piously.
"Okay," said the pal. "Enough of the serious stuff. Name me your best team of parliamentary performers ever."
So here we were. The year half over and Drapier asked to play fantasy football with parliamentary reputations.
"Well," said Drapier. "I can really only go from what I've heard from the older people in here, especially the older barmen and ushers. They know more than anyone else and have better judgment than most of us, certainly better than most of the journalists."
So off Drapier went, picking a few from each decade.
From the 1920s he picked Patrick Hogan. Clear, direct, brave, a great ability to say unpopular things, things which had to be said, great presence, a genuine parliamentarian. From that decade also, and indeed the decades to come, he picked Sean MacEntee and Sean Lemass. MacEntee, "Old Mischief", frequently lost the run of himself and would fight like a corner boy, but he was a superb performer with a rasping tongue that frequently tore paint off his opponents. Lemass was different, asserting himself through sheer force of personality and mastery of his brief. Utterly no nonsense, no rhetoric, very like Patrick Hogan in many ways.
Drapier then picked out three more from the early middle period. Bill Norton of Labour was a great platform orator, but he could be devastating in the Dail. He had a Dublin wit and, as in the case of Frank Cluskey or indeed Liam Cosgrave, Dublin wit is tailor-made for the putdown remark, the quick jab that deflates the opposition.
The other three in Drapier's list at this time are James Dillon, Sean Dunne and Noel Browne. Dillon was the supreme parliamentary performer, capable of the highest flights of oratory but equally adept at street-fighting. Technically the best, though when it came to scoring there would be a question mark. Sean Dunne was a free spirit, self-educated, a genuine republican, not afraid to say things others wouldn't, but with great humanity.
As for Noel Browne, Drapier would have the Noel Browne of his National Progressive Democrat days on his team. Noel was essentially an opposition politician par excellence, but worth his place in any team, even if he was never a team player.
Frank Cluskey would have to be on Drapier's team. Frank trained as a butcher in the inner city, was an actor by second nature and a socialist by conviction. Then there is John Maurice Kelly. John really could draw the crowds, great intellect, colourful language, savage indignation and great humour all combined together. Cluskey and Kelly together could draw blood from any government.
That left Drapier with two places to fill, and possibly a third for a super-sub. He had more than three candidates, strangely enough no former Taoiseach among them, and certainly not the present incumbent. Whatever his other qualities Bertie Ahern would be playing in the Leinster League when it comes to parliamentary performance.
The other names on Drapier's list include Kevin O'Higgins, Brian Lenihan, Pat Lindsay and Jack McQuillan, but Drapier decided to invite his readers to fill the remaining places. All suggestions before the end of the month.