LAST week, Drapier posed a political puzzle for readers and bar stool politicians alike - why did the Minister for Justice, Nora Owen, on a recent Question & Answers programme suggest that this Government could go to, what she referred to as, the full extent of its term?
Most in here thought that was until November, 1997, but she suggested January, 1998. What was the significance of that latter date? The answer, in Drapier's opinion, is that January 1998, would represent the third anniversary of the formation of the Rainbow Coalition which, of course, would entitle Nora Owen, Proinsias De Rossa, Pat Rabbitte and company to a ministerial pension.
Now wouldn't that be ironic Democratic Left, the very party which berated ministerial pension practice would, between the six of them, get four ministerial pensions? The carrot of ministerial pension may make them all the more willing to string this Government out as long as possible.
No sooner had Drapier mentioned the fact that Dick Spring has had his feet on terrafirma more often than not over the last number of months, off he flies to New York to address the UN. From what Drapier hears, the Tanaiste will be jetting off to many more exotic locations, all in the interest's of the EU presidency' of course.
No doubt he will be keeping an eye on the various movers and shakers in the Residential Property Tax debate. Last weekend's reports that Fine Gael were being blocked by Democratic Left and Labour from abolishing this tax altogether brought a quick retort from Labour, although no mention from the Democratic Left. The joint statement issued by the Labour northside six (which has now grown to the Labour eight and extended its boundaries into the southside of the city) had all the hallmarks and fingerprints of Labour's handlers.
They were saying that the abolition of the tax could only be linked with attention being paid to the service charge issue. That was "an easy way bet" and may not be enough to convince the angry voters on each side of the argument. Their colleague, Ruairi Quinn, seems to have been "ploughing a lone furrow" in that he scotched any suggestion that the Government were going to abolish Residential Property Tax.
Drapier has no doubt that ultimately they will "do the decent thing" and that is sit on the fence: that while they will not abolish Residential Property Tax, but will change the bands, thereby keeping Fine Gael happy, but not abolishing for Democratic Left's and Labour's purposes.
DRAPIER saw John Bruton giving an interview on The Week in Politics in which he was questioned about the British attitude to the euro. The Taoiseach stated that the timetable set for a common currency was as much a British timetable as that of any other country in the EU and he went on to state that the British were as committed as anyone else in this regard. These remarks surprise Drapier and no doubt a lot of other people. If they did make such an agreement, then it looks as if they are hell bent on breaking same.
Their record on keeping agreements in relation to EU matters is not great and one only has to look at the way in which, in regard to the beef crisis, the Florence agreement came to certain understandings which were at the time heralded by John Major as being a triumph. Last week, however, the story was much different and they here preparing to go back on that agreement much to the chagrin of governments and farmers across Europe, but particularly in Ireland.
This week, we were back in the Dail chamber with a vengeance.
Taoiseach's Question Time dealing with the Northern issue was particularly tetchy and during it both Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney tried to take the Taoiseach to task concerning his "over optimistic" signals when he was out in Washington.
While the Taoiseach endeavoured to put a good face on the issue, there is no doubt that to us listening to the news reports and reading the papers, the suggestion was being made that a renewed ceasefire was on the cards. We were all brought back to earth by the huge find of arms and explosives in London.
Drapier was envious of those of his colleagues who are currently on the British Irish Inter Parliamentary Body who were meeting in Bath this week. By all accounts, the surroundings were stupendous. However, from what he hears from his colleagues there, the debate between the British and Irish members was overshadowed by a deep sense of gloom and foreboding.
A MILESTONE was reached this week which passed off with very little notice and that was the final passing of the Divorce Legislation without a vote. There had been some rumours circulating that one or two prominent members would "break away from the crowd" and dissent, but when push came to shove no heads rose above the parapet (or is it the pulpit?). It sure is changed times.
There was a time when such legislation would have some deputies ranting about the dire consequences.
One way or the other, Drapier doesn't think there will be any retribution - either ecclesiastical, moral or political - taken out on any of his colleagues. Like it or not, the general public are light years ahead of most of their public representatives in here. In recent years, the only reason successive governments have moved on issued like these is because their handlers and pollsters have been telling them that this is the way to go.
Readers may say so much for the supremacy of democracy, but there you have it. The country is not being run by the elected representatives but is being run by faceless handlers and spin doctors. Such is life in this great nation of ours.