THE merger between Labour and Democratic Left may be agreed, but the signing doesn't take place until next month, when DL has wound up its affairs. In the meantime the two remain separate parties and their current status was evident during the rumpus in the Dail on Wednesday over Charlie Haughey's tax.
Proof that the caring and sharing hasn't started yet occurred when Labour leader Ruairi Quinn was visibly taken aback by the revelation by DL's Pat Rabbitte that the appeals commissioner involved was Bertie Ahern's brother-in-law. To the glee of the new party's opponents, it appeared to all that Quinn hadn't known and hadn't been told in advance.