Rarely have Dail deputies looked forward to an adjournment with such relief as they regard the long summer recess which starts on Friday when the builders move into Leinster House. All parties are desperately looking to the break for respite from their troubles, and hope to return re-invigorated in three months time. They have a week to go, and despite the late sittings for mostly uncontentious legislation and the endless Hugh O'Flaherty row, there is little chance of an upset.
The leader most anxious for the respite is Fine Gael's John Bruton. If he survives next week and proceeds with his reshuffle he is probably safe until the next election, which could be within 12 months. No heave can be organised over the holidays and with Leinster House being turned into a building site there is little chance of even an early Dail recall, as Labour intend demanding. The man most likely to succeed Bruton is Michael Noonan, but no challenge has been mounted and the closer an election the less chance of a heave - it is far too dangerous to go to the country with a new leader.
Bertie Ahern, relieved that the Liam Lawlor and Denis Foley controversies have been dealt with, will be desperately hoping that the distance between the Government and the tribunal sleaze will hold and that no further damaging revelations will emerge. He has been frightened by the latest polls and the O'Flaherty fall-out and is not anxious for an early election. Mary Harney, the PD leader, is hoping for relief from the problems and criticism of the past few months and the blame she got over O'Flaherty, although he wasn't her choice. She intends reorganising and rejuvenating the party in preparation for the PD conference in Cork in November, by which time her fortunes may be revived. She will be formulating new policies while conscious that promoting such is difficult in a coalition government. If you call for something, then why not implement it?
Ruairi Quinn will be planning how to maintain his slight improvement in the polls, make a greater impact generally and compete with Bruton on the opposition benches when the Dail returns.