It is not normal when a TD or a senator is under at tack in the media that there would be universal support for him or her in Leinster House. Normally, one section or the other would be delighting in the member's discomfiture.
This was definitely not the case in Seamus Brennan's travails last weekend. Drapier has hardly ever seen the unanimity of support for Brennan who was the subject of revelations of his banking finances in the Sunday Business Post last week. For most deputies, this was the "crossing of the Rubicon" in that never before had this type of information been put into the public domain about an Oireachtas member.
The only other recent instance where a deputy's personal life was publicised to such an extent was the use of photographs of a well-known TV presenter in connection with Dr Jim McDaid. This was greeted with revulsion in here at the time, and so it was in relation to Seamus Brennan this week. All of us feel if it happens this week to him it could happen to any of us next week.
We feel the media have gone too far on this one and are somewhat surprised that the Business Post would stoop so low. It was suggested that this type of journalism was the preserve of the tabloids, but the fact that the Business Post has succumbed to this shows that even the broadsheets must compete for the sleaze factor.
While the media have been clamouring for changes in the laws of defamation, Drapier can assure them that, given recent trends, there is no way that changes favouring the media would be countenanced. Indeed Drapier can predict that moves will be made at some stage in the future to clip the wings of those elements in the media who delve into sleaze.
The House similarly united in condemnation of the awful turn of events relating to the return of the bodies of the victims of the Provisional IRA. What originally set out to be a great PR exercise before the local and European elections for Sinn Fein has turned into an unmitigated disaster.
Drapier can predict again that the electorate will vote with its feet against this turn of events. The Dail and Seanad united to put in place the necessary legislation and other measures so that the bodies could be found, but the Provisional movement has not reciprocated. Drapier wonders how such a disciplined organisation could have allowed this to happen and would have thought that it would have waited until it was absolutely sure its information stood up before releasing it.
There was much surprise at the Evening Herald poll on Tuesday which indicated that Fianna Fail's star was rising and support for the Taoiseach was holding firm. The poll surprised the most ardent Fianna Failer and left the Opposition scratching their collective heads. It's now being suggested that the Opposition and indeed the media hostile to the Government must go back to the drawing board.
Drapier has not seen such a tirade against a government both from the Opposition and particularly from the media for many years, yet if the Dublin poll is to be believed, no matter what is thrown at the Government and particularly Fianna Fail, it is insulated against it.
Drapier is not altogether sure that this is a fact and would question a number of aspects of the poll. For instance, it indicates that the PDs would be "decimated" and why wouldn't it, given that in the survey, when the ballot paper was presented to the prospective voter, there was no PD candidate on same (for the European elections)?
Having said that, there is no doubt that the public is much more discerning than we might give it credit for. After all the recent scandals and allegations, it is obvious that it paints us all with the one brush. Drapier is still of the view that whatever politician "gives legs" to such allegations is only doing a disservice to our profession generally.
The other main topic of conversation in here this week was the cancelled Yugoslavian match.
While it was made out earlier in the week that the Government was at sixes and sevens, it was quite obvious by Wednesday that the Taoiseach was on top of things. He was questioned about the Government's position by Nora Owen and Ruairi Quinn and he let it out of the bag that the Government was adopting a stand-off position so as not to jeopardise the Republic's chance of qualifying for Euro 2000.
Bertie Ahern wanted UEFA to make the decision because if the Government was to take a stand too early, the points would be in jeopardy. Once UEFA reached its decision, the Government had no option but to withdraw visas for the Yugoslavians and thereby have the match cancelled.