Relations between the presidential candidates appear as frosty as those between their respective handlers, if last Monday's debate in UCG is anything to go by. With more than 1,000 students crammed into the hall, it was the largest meeting of the campaign, and four of the candidates rearranged their schedules to attend. Dana pleaded family commitments.
The handlers in attendance agreed their candidates would speak in alphabetical order. The problem was that Mary Banotti hadn't arrived so how could they start? The representatives of Derek Nally and Mary McAleese insisted Banotti should not be allowed to speak out of turn alphabetically and threatened to pull out if this were permitted.
But the chairman, former AG Harry Whelehan, a man well used to rows, was having none of this. It was eventually agreed that Banotti could speak if she arrived before everyone else had finished. After a frantic dash through Clare and Galway she made it as Adi Roche was delivering her final paragraphs.