Dáil Sketch / Michael O'Regan: A lot done, more to do. But time is running out for the Dáil despite the anticipated publication of numerous pieces of legislation in the coming weeks.
There is a break in Dáil sittings due in the week following the June bank holiday weekend. And then there is the three-month summer recess from early July.
Speed is of the essence, therefore, in the coming weeks. But Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan, for one, will not easily believe it.
Arms folded, he rose yesterday to face Tánaiste Mary Harney on the Order of Business.
"I was very fortunate to receive a letter yesterday from the parliamentary affairs division of the Health Service Executive," he declared. His hands, by now, were punching the air in annoyance.
"The problem about this parliamentary question is that it was tabled almost a year ago. I got an apology for the delay," he added.
Fine Gael chief whip Paul Kehoe noted that 16 Bills were to be published before the end of the summer. "Some have already been published, but will the full 16 be published before the end of session which is fast approaching?"
Ms Harney assured him the intention was to publish the majority of them, if not all, before then.
What, meanwhile, of the most urgent legislation, the Bill to deal with the fallout from the Supreme Court consent judgment?
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said Minister for Justice Michael McDowell had said earlier on Pat Kenny's RTÉ radio programme that the chief justice had warned of making haste slowly.
"However, this month last year we took all sections of two different Bills without notice, from the Government," he added.
A perplexed Mr Rabbitte said he understood the Tánaiste had told the Dáil that the amending Bill would be before the House in two weeks' time. "Is the House scheduled to be in session in two weeks' time?" he asked.
Ms Harney said the House would not sit that week but if it was approved by the Government at that time she was sure that deputies would like to see it for at least a few days before it was debated in the House.
Labour's Seán Ryan warned about possible turbulent waters off the coast of north Dublin when he was told by Ms Harney that the Harbours Bill would not be published until next year.
"I hope the people of north Co Dublin will not have to wait until the harbours fall in before receiving funding."
Later during education questions those involved moved at a brisk pace as if sensing that time was of the essence.
They included Minister Mary Hanafin, Minister of State Síle de Valera, Fine Gael's Olwyn Enright, Labour's Jan O'Sullivan and Independent Marian Harkin, all wearing make-up at an unknown cost.
Fine Gael's Damien English, scribbling furiously like a diligent schoolboy, appeared to be relying on his natural complexion.