Here, suggests Mary Holland, is a modest proposal for the Taoiseach to consider before his Ministers assemble on January 15th for the first Cabinet meeting of the new year.
Would Bertie Ahern ever consider scrapping his plan (and it is very much his plan) for the abortion referendum next month, and replace it with a rerun of the poll on the Nice Treaty? Let us consider first the political advantages that would flow from such a decision. The abortion referendum is already causing tensions within the Government. The PDs are known to be unhappy about it. If the opinion polls are anything to go by, Ms Harney and her small band may no longer count for much in the Taoiseach's calculations.
The Labour Party is another matter. It is now looking quite likely that after the general election Fianna Fáil will be looking towards Labour as partners in a new coalition. That, of course, would have to be ratified by a special conference of the Labour Party faithful.
Mr Ahern might be wise to remember that at its annual conference last year the party passed a strong motion not only opposing any referendum on abortion, but also demanding that Irish women facing crisis pregnancies should have facilities for dealing with the problem in their own country. It's easy to see that the mood of such a conference might well be sweeter if the Taoiseach had decided to pull back from what is bound to be an unedifying campaign on abortion.
There is also the distinct possibility that the Government's proposed wording could be defeated. Despite the support of the Catholic bishops, there are other groups on the "Pro Life" side who think that is does not go far enough. The major opposition parties in the Dáil also oppose the referendum, although for different reasons. There have been pleas for moderate and civilised debate on all sides. But veterans like myself know this won't happen. The issue is simply too emotive, which is one reason why it should be dealt with by legislation rather than by a general poll.
Now let us turn to the Nice Treaty. It's already evident that the wave of enthusiasm which has accompanied the arrival of the euro has taken the politicians by surprise. On Monday readers of this newspaper were told that Ireland would be taking a "muted approach" to the introduction of the new currency on New Year's Day. In contrast to other European countries there would be no fireworks, no parades and certainly no bonfires to bid farewell to the punt and a warm welcome to the euro. The Taoiseach planned to visit his local newsagent in Drumcondra to buy a pint of milk, but that would be the height of it.
The people thought otherwise. On a bitterly cold New Year's morning there were long queues outside the Central Bank to get an early look at the new notes and champagne and other refreshments inside the building. RTÉ rose to the occasion. Joe Duffy's two-hour radio show "Good Morning, Euro" caught the mood at home and abroad.
The producer had the simple but brilliant idea of giving a supply of Irish euro currency to correspondents in towns and villages across the EU. We heard how these notes were used to pay - without a bother - for cups of coffee, newspapers, glasses of wine and whatever you're having yourself.
It was hard not to feel a sneaking sympathy for the poor old Brits, who had deliberately excluded themselves from these historic communal festivities out of an insular desire to "save the pound". How 20th century can you get?
Joe Duffy kept asking people whether they felt a sense of "psychological uplift". That might be putting it a bit strong. But from where I was listening, they did seem to feel, in a slightly surprised and embarrassed way, that this was a historic day and that they were glad to be part of it. Later there would be quiet satisfaction that Ireland seemed to have managed the changeover with an astonishing efficiency that was not always matched in other countries.
All this may not last. Some commentators in this newspaper have predicted that the whole project could go horribly wrong, if there is a recession and Ireland's economic interests do not coincide with those of Germany and France. But, for the moment, the country is experiencing the kind of enthusiasm about Europe which we have not seen for a very long time. It seems a crying shame not to be able to capitalise on it by asking the electorate to reconsider its decision on Nice, sooner rather than later.
There's another reason, strongly connected to Europe, why the Taoiseach might be minded to postpone, indefinitely, the abortion poll. Our experience of 30 years in the EU is that Europe, one way or another, has been responsible for many of the progressive measures we have embraced.
At a political level, it has given us confidence to deal with the big boys at the top table. But it is on issues of social justice and equality that membership of the EU has played an important part in all our lives.
We all know that at some time in the future, if the proposed amendment on abortion is passed, it will be challenged and overturned in the courts. More important, it will do nothing to help the thousands of women who travel to Britain and other European countries to have their pregnancies terminated. A referendum on the issue is just another exercise in the kind of hypocrisy and doublethink which has characterised our politics in the past.
So, how about it, Bertie? Why not ditch abortion and romp home to victory on Nice. Look to the future, it's only just begun.
mholland@irish-times.ie