Any chance of a bit of quiet, Peter? Don't bank on it

PETER MATHEWS likes to talk. The deputy for Dublin South sees himself as something of an authority on economic matters and is not behind the door when it comes to unburdening himself of his opinions.

Some call him long-winded, but this wouldn’t be true, because even a gale blows itself out eventually. Not so Peter, who could happily gust forever and frequently attempts to do so.

To the fifth floor of Leinster House so, and the weekly Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, where a familiar scene is unfolding: TDs and Senators slipping dangerously towards a state of unconsciousness as Mathews continues another thrilling sermon on the banks and our woes in Europe.

Yet again, he tells the room what the Government should be doing on the economic front.

Economist Andrew McDowell, special adviser to the Taoiseach, waits patiently to speak. The meeting began at half past five and the clock is now nudging towards seven.

Peter continues giving his colleagues the benefit of his wisdom, at considerable length.

Finally, Mary Mitchell O’Connor snaps. The former primary school principal wakes the room by loudly declaring that everyone has listened at length, Peter, and it’s about time somebody else got a chance to speak. Other people might have opinions on the economy too.

“Could we move it on please,” she demands.

Deputy Mathews is quite taken aback. So much so that he remains quiet for a while. “But it didn’t stop him coming back in later,” sighed a weary backbencher afterwards.

While Peter is a most charming gentleman, he has a tendency to bang on a bit. “Fair play to the formidable Mary, she said what a lot of us wanted to say,” said another backbencher. “He isn’t the oracle, you know. Some of us have opinions too. I pity poor Michael Noonan, if this is what he has to put up with.”

Of course, it won’t knock a feather out of Peter, who was later seen in animated discussion with Fianna Fáil’s Éamon Ó Cuív. Doubtless discussing the fiscal compact referendum, debt reduction and the septic tanks of South Dublin.