At the last FF ardfheis, in November 1998, the warm-up speaker for the Taoiseach was Brian Cowen, and he brought the RDS down with his remarks about the Rainbow Opposition needing a dose of Viagra and the politburo who ran it being composed of three beards and a disco bunny.
This time round, however, Cowen is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and engaged in delicate negotiations on Northern Ireland and on the Austrian problem in the EU. It might not be seemly to have him throwing out scurrilous remarks about the perfidy of the Left. Consequently, the party hierarchy has a dilemma about the best substitute at the gathering in the RDS on March 3rd and 4th.
The theme of this ardfheis will be social inclusion, and 6,000 Soldiers of Destiny are expected. Although the party believes there will be one more such rally before the next general election - June 2002 at the latest - next month's gathering will set out the party's objectives for the remainder of its term in Government. There will be a tented village, with stands from all pillars of the super-powerful social partners, an exhibition of FF posters from the archives and two newsletters for delegates. The one-hour RTE TV broadcast of the leader's speech will be divided by video inserts. Sile de Valera will be in the chair, and deputy leader Mary O'Rourle will introduce the Taoiseach. Several warm-up speakers are being considered, but the traditional man - Cowen, despite the new diplomatic constraints upon him - is not being ruled out.