Dáil Sketch: Few deputies can silence the House with a flight of oratory. Michael D. Higgins is one of them.
He did it yesterday after the Taoiseach had told the House at length of how clear and consistent his position on Iraq was. It was that he would make his position clear to the Dáil when the Security Council agreed, or failed to agree, a new resolution. In the meantime he would make his position clear to President Bush when he met him this week. He wouldn't do it now. He hoped that was clear.
Lest there was any doubt about his clarity he added: " in the absence of a second resolution, we will set out a position that befits whatever action we must take". Enda Kenny wondered aloud what this meant.
Mr Ahern said he would not spell out his position now. But it was consistent. And by the way, even France and Germany were allowing landing facilities for US planes to continue (hint hint) despite their opposition to a possible war.
Round and round the familiar course went the Taoiseach, led by familiar questions from Enda Kenny, Trevor Sargent and Joe Higgins.
Then came Michael D., his voice and right hand quivering, a sheaf of papers in his left. The Dáil adjourned yesterday until March 25th. Michael D. objected to the adjournment of the Dáil without a debate on Iraq/Shannon until March 25th, by which time a war might have started.
As he took off, the Leas-Ceann Comhairle tried to suggest he was speaking out of order, but gave up. The handful of Government deputies who initially sought to make smart remarks gave up too and listened.
"By the time this House returns on Tuesday 25th March it is possible that up to one million mothers may be affected by war, there may be 100,000 direct casualties and 400,000 secondary ones, ten to 15 million people on food dependency may also be affected. That that does not merit a debate in this House is a disgrace." Now the sheaf of papers in his right hand was quivering too as his voice and facial colour rose and rose. A gentle inquiry from the Leas-Ceann Comhairle - "I take it the Deputy is opposing the proposal?" - made the House erupt in laughter. Michael D. looked like he might laugh himself for a second, then grabbed control of the mood again.
The complete silence as he declaimed was broken only by some tut-tutting from the Government benches when, pointing to Government side, he declared: "The blood of Iraqi children and civilians will be on the hands of all the people who would not permit a discussion on the issue.
"It will be on the hands of all these people. They are the ones who would not allow it to be discussed. This Parliament will have been shamed. It is a disgrace the Taoiseach does not have an opinion and is not having a debate. . .It is wrong, wrong, wrong". He sat down and deputies from all Opposition parties burst into a round of applause. A very rare event. The Government TDs sat quietly.
The motion to adjourn was carried. Outside the chamber some blue-uniformed schoolgirls, waiting for their turn to sit on the public gallery, leaned over the marble staircase.
"Is Bertie still in there?" one asked an usher. "Yes he is", came the reply. Their faces lit up like they had been told they were about to see Justin Timberlake.