The Dail reconvenes on Tuesday for what is expected to be the stormiest session this administration has encountered. The summer brought a sudden drop in the Government's popularity and the Opposition scents blood. Both Fine Gael and Labour know they must make their mark over the next few months if they are to oust the Fianna Fail/PD coalition at the general election - likely any time from next spring. The Government parties will be trying to steady their supporters, recoup their losses and hang in there long enough to allow recent fiascos to fade in the public mind.
Tuesday's order of business will be hot and heavy. The Government expects flak on the O'Flaherty affair, oil prices, inflation, the national pay agreement and every single issue that arose over the summer. The FG motion calling for a High Court level inquiry into everything and everyone surrounding the Phillip Sheedy case was tabled over the summer and should come up in a couple of weeks. The immediate aim of the Government, meanwhile, is to weather the storm, produce a popular budget and highlight its achievements.
But, in that apt phrase, it could be overtaken by events. A good budget, controllable inflation, stabilising house prices, and even the unlikely occurrence of an improvement in Dublin's traffic and more taxis on the roads, may not be enough to revive the Government's public standing. Events, like banana skins, are unforeseen and unpredictable.
Meanwhile, the main players in Leinster House harbour mounting fears of the rising power of the Independents and the Greens, who are polling strongly. But as Quidnunc discovered this week, they need have no concern, yet, about the new anti-sleaze party of Colm MacEochaidh, since nothing appears to have happened on that front since the blaze of publicity in July.