Trying to raise their game proves tough challenge

DÁIL SKETCH:FINE GAEL'S Richard Bruton posed the philosophical question during a debate on the funding of the Houses of the Oireachtas. How does the political system as it operates in Leinster House go "from the bottom of the fourth division to the top of the first"?

One suggestion could be not to spend two torturous hours on the Order of Business, with rows, ribbing, six votes and party leaders’ season’s greetings riddled with the bitter word.

On the last day of a tumultuous Dáil term the Taoiseach spent almost five minutes just reading out what the day’s business would be. The last item was about the return of the Dáil on January 19th, almost a week later than originally scheduled and allowing for an almost five-week recess. But it was the first item mentioned and it dominated every issue dealt with, resulting in half a dozen votes, each of which takes about 12 minutes.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the British government would be back on January 5th and the Dáil had plenty of business to be getting on with, including a full debate about an inquiry into the banking system and a discussion about what seemed to be up to €6 billion in further recapitalisation of Anglo Irish Bank.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore pointed to the irony of the Government collapsing the pay talks with the unions about the proposed unpaid leave and then “come in here to propose an additional week’s leave for themselves” and paid leave at that. Whatever about other years, there was no justification this year as “these are not normal times and this should not be treated as business as usual”.

The Labour leader also went on a bit of a Green hunt, suggesting some Christmas reading for the Taoiseach. It was however a “work of fiction”, he was recommending: the Green Party election manifesto in which the Greens promised to “more than double the Dáil sitting time”. It currently sits about 30 weeks of the year and the Greens pledged, back in 2007, to increase it to 45 weeks.

Sinn Féin leader Caoimhgín Ó Caoláin believed the Dáil should sit next week for two days. Even his colleagues on the Opposition baulked at that.

The Taoiseach, who normally doesn’t do Thursdays in the Dáil, was at his most emphatic when Fine Gael’s David Stanton asked him if he supported reform. After almost two hours in the chamber, he was firm in his reply: “my full support – my absolute full support”.

Eventually they got to season’s greetings. The Taoiseach said it was a time to “recharge the batteries”. Enda said he would be “deep in the recesses of the Nephin Beag range, clearing out my mind for the next period ahead”.

Eamon Gilmore, suggested the Taoiseach might consider retiring next year and if he did “his pension will be calculated on the pre-cut salary” and he would do himself and the country a favour.

“You never miss an opportunity”, Mr Cowen retorted.