Drapier wouldn't blame readers for thinking that last week he (conveniently) forgot to mention the large increases in TDs' expenses and Ministers' salaries.
The fact is Drapier didn't have enough room to articulate his views on this issue. He must start by congratulating the present Government who decided to bite the bullet once and for all (and particularly Charlie McCreevy).
Over the years Drapier has decried the fact that politicians have generally tended to belittle themselves by being apologetic for their very existence. This was never more obvious when it came to how TDs fought for themselves.
TDs were lobbied by everyone, and yet when it came to "looking after themselves" they were the worst in the world. The problem always tended to be that despite the best intentions all-party support could not be arrived at.
There's no better time than the present, given the fact that most of the major parties had been in government in some shape or form over the last number of years. So it was, in that the major parties along with Democratic Left and the Progressive Democrats backed these increases. Even the Greens stayed relatively quiet. It was left to only Sinn Fein's Caoimhghin O Caolain and the Socialist Party's Joe Higgins to cry halt.
Most of the rest of the TDs and senators were scathing in their criticism of what they saw as the opportunism of O Caolain and Higgins. Charlie McCreevy even said he would accept an amendment from them to the Bill allowing any deputy or senator to opt out of the new increases. But no such amendment was put down.
It was pointed out that Higgins, quite apart from his being in receipt of the normal TD's salary, his party (all one of him) is also entitled to another £25,000 or so for party expenses. Drapier doesn't remember Higgins criticising this when it was granted some time back.
Did he ever give it back, Drapier asks? Drapier thinks that O Caolain's party, Sinn Fein, would also be entitled to this £25,000 party expenses.
Drapier noted that O Caolain referred to the fact that TDs and senators were able to vote themselves increases immediately but that social welfare recipients were required to wait until midyear for their increases. O Caolain was somewhat ironic.
Drapier makes no apologies for it. Now that the expenses for running a constituency office, etc. are put in place on a reasonable level, he exhorts McCreevy to go the full way and give TDs a proper salary.
The fact is, as far as Drapier is concerned, the salary of £34,000 is far behind what it should be. This is causing extreme difficulty to all the political parties in enticing suitable candidates for election.
Both members, particularly Government members, are breathing a sigh of relief that the National Irish Bank's scandal took the headlines away from the increases to such an extent that the issue was overwhelmed by banking matters.
While all of us in here are taken aback by the effrontery of the banks' actions, the more this goes on the more Drapier is beginning to wonder if Charlie Bird, George Lee and RTE are being used by the people giving them the information.
It seems to Drapier that what we are now getting is allegation "on the drip", in that every time one turns on the television, there are yet more allegations. It is being strongly suggested that the persons making the allegations are disgruntled former employees.
Drapier wonders whether or not it would be helpful if Charlie or George would indicate the motives behind the people making these allegations and whether or not they received substantial financial handouts before their relationships soured with the bank.
When the scandal broke most of us compared stories about our experiences. It was found that nearly everyone had a story to tell as to how a bank, or financial institution, milked either a constituent or in some cases Oireachtas members themselves. Drapier noticed that, while the NIB management was being lambasted, another set of financial managers were looking after themselves really well.
Three Irish Permanent directors shared a £1.2 million bonus on top of £800,000 salaries. Time was building societies were mutual, non-profit making and there to serve members. How times have changed. Now their top executives are being paid Lotto salaries and the members have little or no say in this situation.
While readers are settling down to look at the rugby international between Ireland and England this afternoon (if they are lucky enough to be at Twickenham or to have BSkyB television), they will be reassured to know that Irish rugby is in the A team at least in TV broadcasting terms whereas English rugby is not. This was revealed on the Order of Business on Wednesday when the Taoiseach was asked by Ruairi Quinn why the international was not being televised live on RTE.
Apparently (at least according to the Taoiseach in reply), rugby is not on the A list in English law, which gives Sky access to it, while we here must ensure that it is on our A list in legislation to preserve it on RTE. Someone quipped that we need an A team if we have any chance of winning today.