DÁIL SKETCH:At the top of Enda Kenny's political shopping list was the need for the fall in interest rates to be passed on to the public, writes Michael O'Regan
THERE ARE just 18 political shopping days to Christmas and the Opposition was intent on exposing the Government's Scrooge-like ways in the Dáil yesterday.
Enda Kenny was the one counting, and he pointed out just how much work remains to be done in the 18 Dáil sittings between now and the inevitably long Christmas recess.
His shopping list included the need for the fall in interest rates to be passed on to the public.
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, who was minding the shop for the Government on the Order of Business, said he anticipated that they would be passed on to those most in need: the banks' customers.
Eamon Gilmore was rebuked by Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue when he attempted to ask questions about the cervical cancer vaccine controversy.
"I realise the matter raised is important, but the problem I have is that there is no question time on Thursday mornings," said O'Donoghue.
Continuing in sweetly reasonable tones, he pointed out that TDs could change the House's standing orders if they wished.
Kenny noted that Government Chief Whip Pat Carey has been, on the Government's behalf, looking at Dáil reform proposals for the past year.
Implying that the Ceann Comhairle had scope to be flexible, Gilmore said that the Dáil did not have a particularly heavy schedule yesterday.
Abandoning the sweetly reasonable tone, O'Donoghue remarked: "That is not the point. Members must obey the rules." But deputies were in no mood to work within the rules.
Fine Gael chief whip Paul Kehoe demanded, in angry tones, a commitment from Lenihan that Minister for Health Mary Harney would make a Dáil statement later on the vaccination controversy.
As the exchanges continued, Harney had some whispered words with the Government Chief Whip. Experienced lip readers thought she was telling him that she had no problem making a statement to the House on the issue.
This was communicated to Lenihan, who duly informed the Opposition that there would, indeed, be a ministerial statement.
"Well done to the Minister for Finance," said Kenny, tongue firmly planted in his cheek. "His generosity is great." A modest Lenihan replied: "Well done to the Government."
Labour's Kathleen Lynch asked Lenihan if he had any idea how many rabbits had died since the heads of the Sports Council Bill were produced.
"Ye got rid of the last Rabbitte," said Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher, addressing the Labour benches.
"That is one Rabbitte we can account for," replied Lynch. "It is the rest of them I'm worried about."
Government backbenchers, who have resembled frightened rabbits caught in the headlights of an economic recession, were more animated yesterday.
But they will be glad when the 18 political shopping days to Christmas have passed and they can close down the shop.