Since our former President Mary Robinson flew off to her new job in Geneva the highest authority in the land has been the Presidential Commission, a triumvirate comprising Chief Justice Liam Hamilton; the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Brian Mullooly and the Ceann Comhairle of the Dail, Seamus Pattison.
They have met only twice since September 12th. The first occasion was on September 30th when they convened in the now tenantless Aras to invest powers in Ray Burke as Minister for Foreign Affairs to sign the Amsterdam Treaty. Their second meeting was last Tuesday evening to accept his resignation from cabinet.
