The Dail press pass rested easily inside my jacket as I crossed the famous threshold in Kildare Street and got acquainted with the very nice piece of blue carpet therein. A day out of the office lay ahead, a day to be spent at the heart of Irish politics. This was to be a day's "work experience" part of my training as a journalist. I was directed to the Irish Times office, where our Dail reporter, Michael O'Regan, works. He looked busy, so I left him to it and settled down to a day watching Dail debate.
On gingerly opening the door to the press gallery and looking down on the Dail chamber, I was struck by how familiar it all seemed, thanks to television. They all looked like they should, these elected representatives of the people. Smooth, suited and at ease on their feet, they seemed to know what they were talking about. Democracy, I have seen your face, I thought. And, although queasy at the prospect of sharing the air with so many politicians, I spread out notebooks and the order paper on the press bench (to create cover, so to speak), breathed shallowly through my nose, and steadied my pulse for the cut and thrust to come.
18th Amendment
They were debating the 18th Amendment to the Constitution Bill, 1998, to be put to referendum on May 22nd. John Gormley of the Green Party had proposed adding to the Bill, which would alter the Constitution and ratify the Amsterdam Treaty, that it "shall not compromise this State's policy of military neutrality".
The amendment was being opposed by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left, so it was doomed from the start.
The Greens feel that supporting the Amsterdam Treaty will further reduce our neutrality. My gut feeling is to agree, although any neutrality to which we might aspire was arguably signed away in principle when first we flirted with being Europeans.
Those opposing Mr Gormley, remarkable in their agreement, felt the Amsterdam Treaty should be supported and were not worried about neutrality being compromised. They were all, however, a little wary of the electorate, the feeling being that they might not vote too enthusiastically, due to apathy. I wondered where the apathy had come from.
Maastrict, we were informed by those opposing, needed improvement from an Irish point of view, and with Amsterdam safely agreed to we could opt out of any military adventure we disagreed with. A regulated armaments industry, which Amsterdam would provide for, was better than an unregulated arms industry, it was felt. I tried to imagine the difference to someone at the wrong end of a weapon made in Europe, but since joining in is frowned upon, I kept the lip buttoned.
Deputies came, said their piece, and left. A nice touch, I thought, was the bow to the chair. Even the Taoiseach did it. Proper respect for the Irish people.
Wasting time?
Mr Gormley kept on getting up to speak, an irritation to everybody, I felt. Why would he not shut up and stop wasting time? He wasn't going to get his amendment passed. His opponents said he was confusing the Irish people with claptrap about neutrality. We should trust those nice Brussels people. If they said we could opt out, then that's the way it would be. Let us not talk of body bags, military adventures or arms industries. Let us instead talk of the shame we all felt over Bosnia, and Europe's inability to join in without the US.
The Amsterdam Treaty will solve this, they assured the house. The idea came across to me that Ireland would be allowed join in on any combat opportunities that might be good sport.
The argument further admitted we might have to talk about neutrality in the future, perhaps 10 years hence, but the n-word should be avoided for now.
I began to nod off, only waking each time Mr Gormley rose to his feet. He endured. Was insulted (politely of course - this was the Dail). Was supported by Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party and Caoimhghin O Caolain of Sinn Fein..
Exhausted, I went for a light lunch. I presume they banged on, because on returning at 2.30 p.m. they were still at it. Taoiseach's questions were being disposed of, one by one.
There was some fine banter. FG commented on the humour of the FF side. Said there must have been a good bottle of wine at lunch. I studied Bertie's face with new interest. He seemed steady on the feet, no slurring in his speech. Could FG have been mistaken? Hard to know. Can one breathalyse a Taoiseach? Is it an offence to have drink taken and speak in the Dail? Questions droned on, I had little interest in most of them. I might have nodded off again, but was wide awake to watch the drama of the vote on Mr Gormley's amendment.
"Votail," said the TV screens, and a bell rang incessantly. Deputies filed back in, more good suits than I ever imagined could exist. The scene resembled one of those group cartoons where the body disappears, but only the faces are clearly drawn. Familiar faces. They chatted among themselves, not bothering to take their places. I got the feeling they would not take long to seal the amendment's fate.
Lonely sight
I was right. Those proposing the amendment were told to stand up. The two Green Party men, Gormley and Trevor Sargent, along with Mr Higgins, Mr O Caolain and Mr Gregory, got up on the hind legs. A lonely sight, one which touched me. I have a soft spot for the losing side. The rest of the house chatted on, and laughter rippled freely. The chair said that since there was not the necessary 10 deputies proposing the amendment, there was no need for a vote. Exit a horde of suits, still babbling with laughter, and forming odd alliances as they went. Bertie Ahern lingered to chat with Tony Gregory. They seemed like friends. Odd.
When they'd all gone, the debate was spent, and FF proposed its amendment. FG and Labour deputies each said their parties supported it. I suddenly felt I'd had enough of democracy for one day.
I stumped off down the stairs, bouncing slightly on the carpet, and headed for the suddenly fresh Kildare Street air.