THE Presidency, the Seanad and the autumn budget are the current items on the political agenda now that a new Government has been formed and its programme finalised.
On the Presidency, the major parties are coming to the conclusion that no sitting deputy can run. The voting situation in the new Dail is too tight to risk a by-election and party strategists have concluded that no matter what the majority in any given constituency, the loser last time out has the sympathy of the electorate and therefore is likely to take the seat.
Also, by-elections have an almost constant tendency to go against a government.
Taking the above into account, Fianna Fail, who have already ruled out David Andrews because they believe they wouldn't win a by-election in Dun Laoghaire, now believe they could not risk running Albert Reynolds or Mary O'Rourke either, although their constituencies are strongly FF. Consequently Maire Geoghegan Quinn - and more especially Ray MacSharry - are coming more into focus.
Fine Gael has similar considerations which means talk of MEP Mary Banotti, whose CV was circulated by the party to the media two weeks ago and who, her handlers boast, comes from good political stock. Other names will be considered but not for at least two weeks. Peter Sutherland has been mentioned. A contest between two former European commissioners would be an interesting one.
As for the Seanad, only Labour has taken steps there and selected five "inside" - ie party-nominated - candidates. FF and FG are waiting to see which of their outgoing senators and defeated deputies can secure "outside" nominations before deciding who should get an official nomination. Generally, they will select one candidate for every four members of the parliamentary party. After the Seanad results, during the first week in August, all eyes will be on who gets the Taoiseach's 11 nominations. It will be the last chance of an Oireachtas seat for many for another three or four years.