Dáil Sketch / Michael O'Regan: Hapless Fianna Fáil backbenchers continue to wonder when the Taoiseach will fill the junior ministerial vacancy caused by Ivor Callely's departure.
Fine Gael's Michael Ring, for one, feels their pain. Yesterday, on the Order of Business, he pleaded with Tánaiste Mary Harney to indicate when they would be put out of their misery.
"Many of the fellows on the Government benches, with new suits on them for the past three weeks, want to put them away for Christmas next year," said Mr Ring. His party colleague, Bernard Durkan, observed there were creases in the new suits because of the long wait.
Referring to earlier exchanges regarding the controversy in Bord na gCon, Mr Ring elevated the ministerial vacancy to a higher plane. "We are not talking about the doping of dogs," he remarked. "We are," suggested party colleague Dan Neville.
Mr Ring had his own nominee. Looking toward the PD benches, he suggested the job be given to Liz O'Donnell. Ms O'Donnell, who these days looks like somebody with long-term ministerial ambitions, smiled. The job, by all accounts, will go to an FF backbencher north of the Liffey.
Ms Harney indicated that nothing would be known until next Tuesday at the earliest.
She said the appointment of a minister of state was a matter for the Taoiseach. "The Taoiseach must put a name before the Government for its approval and that has not yet happened. No Government meeting is planned for today, tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday or Monday." Clearly, another long weekend for backbenchers sitting by the telephone in their creased suits.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte referred to the "extraordinary stories" circulating regarding Bord na gCon. He believed, he said, that Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue might have had some contact with one of the trainers who was involved in the doping incident. "Scurrilous, scurrilous," snapped Mr O'Donoghue.
Noting that there were "serious issues" surrounding Bord na gCon, Ms Harney said that, like Mr Rabbitte, she had received a good deal of anonymous correspondence about dogs, despite her lack of canine knowledge.
She added that she had taken a phone call from a leading journalist last Friday, asking if she had a dog, a query she took to be a joke.
"A Rottweiler," said a voice from the Opposition benches, as he scanned the PD ranks. But Michael McDowell was nowhere to be seen.
Later, the PD Minister for Justice, whose political bark is always as severe as his bite, was unleashed to take justice questions. He growled at the Opposition when tackled on escalating crime figures.
Labour's Joe Costello was, said Mr McDowell, the dog who barked all the time, but never came up with the goods.
Later, deputies returned to their constituency kennels, until Tuesday and the possible announcement of the destination of the "half-car".