Dáil Sketch/Michael O'Regan: Clarity was in short supply in the Dáil at times yesterday, despite a reduced decibel level during Government-Opposition exchanges.
Fine Gael's Richard Bruton wanted to know how the social services inspectorate could be put on a statutory footing, given that the Bill, promised by the Taoiseach to introduce it, was not included in the Government's legislative programme.
When Tánaiste Michael McDowell said the Health Bill 2006 would indeed do the necessary, Mr Bruton repeated that it was not on the list. "We shall see," said a perplexed Mr McDowell. After some further exchanges, the Tánaiste said: "The Bill in question is No 54 in section C and its proper title is the Health Bill." Now you know.
The Order of Business, taken by Mr McDowell, proved to be a relatively tame affair, the one-time rottweiler sweetly reasonable for the most part.
Even a routine query on legislation from Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was conducted with good manners on both sides. There was a time when the tension between Mr McDowell and Sinn Féin TDs was always enough to send the decibel level sky high.
As for the chemistry between the PDs and Fianna Fáil, it was positively blooming. Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey, sitting next to Mr McDowell on the Government benches, occasionally whispered advice and at one time scribbled some notes for the Tánaiste's attention. Mr McDowell had a jibe at the Fourth Estate when replying to Pat Rabbitte on proposals to change the ethics legislation, which was promised following the Tánaiste's temporary difference of opinion with the Taoiseach over money received by Mr Ahern when he was minister for finance.
"The Government will make its mind up on legislative proposals when it sees the proposals and the arguments made in favour of them," said Mr McDowell. "We will not go down a road where a group of people sits in a room somewhere in Dublin and reads the newspapers and decides on the basis of what journalists publish that it will start investigations, without anybody having the courage to make a formal complaint."
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent was having none of it. "It is unbelievable to hear the Tánaiste say what he said. The case has been made." The sweet reasonableness soon became contagious. Fine Gael's David Stanton referred to John O'Donoghue as the Tánaiste's "illustrious predecessor" in the Department of Justice.
Mr O'Donoghue smiled. If this continues, will Mr O'Donoghue, the Cabinet's remaining rottweiler, undergo a political emasculation? After all, it appears that Brian Cowen is so stricken by gravitas that he is beyond saving.
As for Mr McDowell, the speculation in the Dáil is that the sweetly reasonable persona will not last. As the Opposition ups the ante, it is confidently expected that he will again adopt the rottweiler characteristics after a period in quarantine.