THE arrival of Dr Jim McDaid on the Fianna Fail front bench in a mini shuffle caused by the dramatic exit of Mrs Moire Geoghegan Quinn vividly illustrates the volatile nature of the world of politics.
Just over five years, ago, Dr McDaid's political hopes lay in tatters within hours of the then Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, nominating him to the defence ministry.
But on Thursday evening last Dr McDaid was told by his party leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, of his intention to elevate him again.
News of his promotion validates a revival of Donegal North. East aspirations that, at last, the constituency may be on the brink of seeing a State car with one of its own inside sweep through the streets of Letterkenny. The last time Donegal had a senior cabinet post was in 1970 when the late Mr Neil Blaney was Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Within a day of being made spokesman for equality and law reform, senior sources in Fianna Fail were predicting that Dr McDaid will certainly rank as a cabinet member if the party manages to get into government after the forthcoming general election.
This week's decision by Mr Ahern lays to rest the ghost that has haunted Dr McDaid since 1991. He had been photographed, in 1990 outside the Four Courts in Dublin With a republican, Mr James Pius Clarke, whose extradition had been successfully opposed.
That association with the Letterkenny man was enough to provoke one of the harshest opposition attacks on any TD in the Dail and led Fianna Fail's partners in coalition, the Progressive Democrats, to voice their objections to his nomination in cabinet.
Amid the political brouhaha, and to ward off further controversy, Dr McDaid asked Mr Haughey to withdraw the nomination to government and he resumed his career as an often outspoken backbencher with liberal views on divorce, abortion and the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
He subsequently got into trouble with the anti abortion lobby when activists picketed his offices in Letterkenny during the passage through the Dail of the Abortion Information Bill. He described himself as a "hypocrite" for obeying the party whip and voting against the legislation.
During the debate on the Bill, he made the point that he was not succumbing to any, anti abortion pressure but was simply obeying the party whip.
Meanwhile, if Dr McDaid suffered crushed aspirations in the past, his colleague with what is known in Fianna Fail as "special responsibility" for law reform Mr Willie O'Dea, must have felt pangs of disappointment when the reshuffle was announced this week.
The party's front bench is shadowed by a series of spokesmen, one of whom is Mr O'Dea who dealt with law reform. Speculation suggested that, given his work rate, he might have been favoured for promotion. In spite of being overlooked on this occasion, however, yesterday he issued a statement on capping personal injuries - as law reform spokesman.
This weekend the reshuffled personnel on the front bench are being briefed by advisers and their predecessors on their fresh portfolios. For Dr Michael Woods - returning to social welfare - and Mr Joe Walsh - back in agriculture - the territory is familiar but the area is unexplored for Mr Brian Cowen - in health - and for the new arrival in equality and law reform.
"The round pegs have fallen into round holes. Bertie Ahern did the minimum necessary to reconstruct the front bench without throwing a spanner in the work's," a Fianna Fail source said.
With a nurses strike looming and the complex and controversial hepatitis C tribunal drawing to its conclusion, it is vital that Fianna Fail replaces Mrs Geoghegan Quinn with a flinty figure for the dog eat dog battle that lies ahead in health. Mr Cowen has been chosen for his bellicose style.
He and the other spokesmen had been finalising policy in their respective portfolios in preparation for the party's election manifesto and now move hastily to their new domains.
Dr Woods was minister for social welfare from 1979-81 from March to December 1992; from 1987 to 1991; and from January 1993 to the fall of the Fianna Fail Labour alliance in December 1994. His knowledge of the social welfare system is now said to be all encompassing.
Mr Walsh has twice been appointed minister for agriculture and held the same brief as a minister of state. According to sources, he, too, is not averse to returning to his old stamping ground.
But all those on the slightly revamped front bench cannot expect to see their own faces smile out from the photographs of the next cabinet, if Fianna Fail regains power.
"One or two will have to fall off the wagon," said a party member.