It was back to school for thousands of children right around the country this week. So it was for deputies and senators who returned to Leinster House to debate the legislative changes in response to the Omagh bombing. It is now nearly accepted as the norm that the summer break would be broken up. This has been the case for the last number of years but this time the return of the Houses was under grim circumstances.
During the day-long session in the Dail on Wednesday, speaker after speaker lined up to condemn the Omagh atrocity and to give their views about the Government's proposals. While there was universal condemnation, there were many differing views on the proposals before the House even within the major parties.
For instance, there were many in Fine Gael who felt that the legislation was not required although they made the point that what was more necessary was proper Garda co-operation with the RUC and more Garda resources. There were also some fairly discordant views and exchanges made. For instance, John Bruton's contribution certainly stirred some people into responding.
Predictably, Sinn Fein's Caoimghin O Caolain rounded on him, suggesting that Bruton was using the opportunity to score points and was also trying to rewrite the Belfast Agreement by putting in additional conditions.
He may have had a point in that Bruton seemed to use up his time while speaking to condemn Sinn Fein and its allies rather than concentrate on the Omagh bombing and its perpetrators. Most observers will acknowledge that Sinn Fein has been moving ever so slowly towards the democratic path. On the other hand, Mr Bruton was asking some very pertinent questions of the sufficiency of the words used by Gerry Adams regarding violence being over.
Bruton validly was suggesting that Adams's words were merely a wish rather than a declaration. Adams stated that the violence "must be for all of us now a thing of the past, over, done with and gone".
Drapier noted that Mary Harney was falling over herself to compliment Adams and Sinn Fein on this initiative and listening to her he was reminded of her effusive defence of Ray Burke at a time when even some of his own colleagues were unwilling to defend him. Drapier wondered if Mary's words of praise of Adams and Co would come back to haunt her just as her word on Burke did.
O Caolain was not the only one who criticised Bruton. Minister Jim McDaid and others in Fianna Fail found fault with Bruton's views on the day and were implicitly criticising his tenure while he was Taoiseach and the direction he then took. Drapier is not surprised to hear reports that Bruton is the subject of internal Fine Gael criticism over his speech. It did strike Drapier that he was somewhat out of step with the sombre mood of the day and used it more to criticise Adams and Co.
Most people felt that the changes were necessary though it was left predictably to O Caolain, Joe Higgins and Tony Gregory to try and hold back the tide. Privately, most had some trepidation about giving the gardai these extra tough powers and, if the truth be known, quite a lot had some difficulty about being party to the bringing in of measures similar to those in the North which would be enforced there by the RUC. Most felt that it was one thing giving the gardai extra stringent powers but it was another thing to give them to the RUC.
At the end of the day a lot of what we were doing this week depends on how the changes both in the North and in the South will be interpreted by the judiciary and Drapier has already heard that the legal eagles are lining up for court challenges. Sometime back Drapier complimented the Government on its initiative to ask RTE to disclose the salaries of the top individuals on airwaves. Unfortunately, Drapier was gravely dismayed with this week's revelation that the Government did not plan to publish the details.
Indeed, he understands that it bottled out to such an extent that the figures were revealed only to the Taoiseach and Tanaiste by Minister de Valera and not to the other members of the Cabinet. Drapier notes that a Government spokesman stated that it was its view that it was important to establish the principle that where taxpayers' monies were being paid, disclosure should be made. So he questions, why didn't it? All Oireachtas members, including Cabinet members, are obliged to declare every iota of their being.
Drapier suggests it isn't much to ask that we be told what the top RTE commentators earn. Drapier didn't notice Gaybo, Kenny and Co giving out on the air about the non-disclosure. If this was any other issue Drapier wagers that they would be screaming the House down as to reasons why! Nor was Charlie Bird out on special assignment to find out the details.
The other main event of the week was the visit by Bill and Hillary Clinton. Deputies and senators were somewhat thankful that he wasn't coming to Leinster House because of the disruption it would entail. By all accounts it was a whistle-stop tour and looking at his itinerary there wasn't much time to "pin him down" on the issues of the day. When he was in Russia he said that he wished to put the Lewinsky affair "behind him".
HIS visit wasn't the major event which his previous one was but it helped raise the ante between the Northern party leaders and from that point of view it was a success. Whether one likes him or not we have to hand it to Clinton that he has invested over the years a huge amount of effort and time in Ireland and for this we on this island must be very thankful.
Speculation about next year's European elections is slowly starting to build but most people are coy so as not to peak too soon. Quite a lot of people in here would be interested to go to greener (and richer) pastures if they had half a chance of winning. But right now most manoeuvring is how to get All-Ireland Final tickets, particularly if one is from a competing county.
Any deputy or senator who is known not to have any interest in the proceedings is tapped. Mind you, Drapier wishes to scotch any idea that we get free tickets. The fact is that there is a mad scramble for a small quota of tickets made available by GAA headquarters. But try telling that to your constituents, especially if your county team is in involved in the finals.