Clare Daly wastes no time to become ruler of Ming’s empire

Mattie McGrath was very pleased for fellow Independent Ming Flanagan when he got the nod to go off to Europe.

Pleased on the double, in fact. Because Mattie had his eye on Flanagan's nice office, and, confident that his fellow Independent was going to triumph, he opened negotiations with Leinster House authorities to move into The Ming Suite after the Roscommon TD became an MEP.

Now a disgusted Mattie has become the victim of a ruthless takeover by Socialist Clare Daly, who quickly decamped from her office on the fourth floor to Flanagan's lair on the third floor as soon as Ming was elected.

"I was coming out of my room when I was met by an avalanche of filing cabinets and folders being brought down in a handcart," he sniffs. "Since Tommy Broughan was sorted, I was next in line for a bigger office."

But Clare is now ensconced and has no intention of moving, if the big sign on her door is anything to go by. It features a large picture of an AK47 rifle with “This Room is Protected” written in blood-red ink above it.

Still, Clare and her former Socialist Party colleague, Joe Higgins, are probably relieved they don't have rooms on the same corridor any more. As for Clare, she is now only one room away from her friend and confidant, Mick Wallace. Shane Ross occupies the office between them.

Meanwhile, Mattie is getting ready to launch his Scrap Metal Bill on Wednesday. He’s hoping Finian McGrath, recovering from knee surgery, will turn up to support him.

“I don’t know if he’ll be in a wheelchair or on crutches, but it’ll add a nice touch of metal to the launch.”