As predicted by Drapier last week, matters moved up a gear with the reconvening of the Dail this week. The Opposition's efforts to put the Government on the spot regarding the Ansbacher accounts came to naught when the Independents backed the Government.
Charlie McCreevy and Ruairi Quinn traded punches, but everyone knew the Independent Three were in the Government's bag. The vote will settle Government jitters, but the closeness (75-70) will act as a stark reminder to them.
Other than that, the Opposition had plenty to go on. For instance, the revelations about the National Irish Bank over last weekend were given a political slant in the naming of Beverly Cooper-Flynn who, apparently, worked for the bank in the particular area before becoming a TD.
When Drapier heard this he wondered how this would be treated by the media and by her political opponents. True to form, the hacks built up her involvement into the key point in the affair.
Drapier must give full plaudits to Michael Noonan for the way he handled his reaction. When questioned, he put it to the interviewer that the only reason she was being dragged in on this was that she was a politician and that, as an employee, she would not have the responsibility for decisions. He quite rightly, in Drapier's opinion, said it was her employers who should be answerable.
The same reasoning was not adopted by Pat Rabbitte and, of all people, Ruairi Quinn. Drapier thought Ruairi would have learned from his predecessor Dick Spring's experience in climbing to the high moral ground. He tried to stitch it to Ms Cooper-Flynn. Drapier wondered if, in view of the fact that Ruairi was adopting this high moral tone, perhaps he could explain what he did about chasing banks when he was minister for finance.
Rabbitte's request that she make a personal statement is, in Drapier's opinion, ludicrous. No doubt a lot of Beverly CooperFlynn's Fianna Fail colleagues would yet again request Pat to make his own statement dealing with his 1994 allegation that there was a letter on the Brendan Smyth file which would "rock the foundations of the State" (which ultimately was found never to exist). This political correctness makes Drapier sick.
Drapier has seen it all now. First, we had claims by the Army for deafness, then sunburn, then salmonella, and it was even reported that the Army bandsmen were claiming because the band music was too loud. But now we see that Labour's Michael Bell, as a former FCA man, has decided to make a claim for compo, apparently for hearing loss.
Drapier has often felt that it is a good thing in politics to be able to turn a deaf ear to constituents' complaints, but this is breaking new ground. Drapier is particularly surprised that someone as experienced as Michael Bell would take this type of claim, particularly in view of the adverse public reaction.
Drapier feels that this action by Michael confirms the view that he does not anticipate going before the people again.
There is divided opinion on whether Michael should resign his position on the Public Accounts Committee. But his action certainly does raise the question as to whether he could be accused of using documents and information (received as a member of the committee) in support of his action.
Surely the Department of Defence would be reluctant to give too much information if this possibility remains? Quinn's action to move him from Defence to Marine was quick and bloodless. Bell saw the error of his ways by declaring he would absent himself from the committee.
Preparations for the two byelections seem to be hotting up with, apparently, a blitz on Dublin North last Saturday by all the party leaders. The feeling in here is one of extreme weariness (despite the Christmas break) at the thought of having to go on the hustings again, particularly having had a general election and a presidential election in the second half of last year.
Drapier is not sure which byelection he will be assigned to (if at all). This is one of the further unpleasant tasks of a backbencher: to literally spend three weeks in a "foreign" constituency at one's own expense, motivating the troops (and the voters). Drapier hates by-elections.
All in all, these two will be very keenly watched by all. Bertie and the Government will, on the one hand, be saying that to provide stability they must win them. On the other hand, the Opposition will be asking the electorate to give the Government a salutary lesson on who the boss is, the voter or the Government.
Bill Clinton's troubles have been the source of much mirth in the Dail bar. There was divided opinion as to whether he would survive. Most of us were in awe of the way Hillary supported him. Most of us felt that we would not be so lucky if we were in the same predicament.
The Ryanair-SIPTU dispute has all the makings of a very nasty issue, especially with the airline's rejection of the Labour Court intervention. Drapier thinks the Government is in a bind on this. How it deals with it will be a real test of its mettle.