DRAPIER: Well, we are some way into the political term, the big dramas have been played out and almost concluded. That is except for one, the ongoing Sinn Féin/IRA/Northern Ireland impasse.
Martin Cullen is still Minister for Transport and it is now entirely up to him how he handles and rises above the political controversy that dogged him during Christmas and the new year.
Mary McAleese's apology has been genuine and total and fully accepted. She and her husband, Martin, will continue the fine work for harmony in Ireland they have been carrying out over the past number of years.
Ray Burke is safely tucked up in Arbour Hill and the politicians know now that the days of nudge nudge, wink wink, are over.
So, it's back to routine and hard work and as well as Dáil and Seanad business, there is the upcoming two by-elections in Kildare North and Meath. Cllr Tommy Reilly, the locally selected candidate for Fianna Fáil for Meath withdrew his candidacy and Cllr Shane Cassells is being put forward.
He bears a good, well-respected name, is based at the heart of Navan's people, and will be well placed to reap the rewards of the excellent Meath Fianna Fáil organisation.
The selection in Kildare North is proceeding ahead. Áine Kitt-Brady would be a fine choice. The Independent candidate, Catherine Murphy, is being spoken of as a likely winner. So a battle is likely between the two.
Of course, all the political parties have an eye to the changed boundaries in both constituencies come the next general election, which has guided much of the thinking around these selections.
Fianna Fáil is quite determined to prove that governments can win by- elections.
Deputies and senators of all parties know that these jousts will be a dry run for the general election in two years' time, so great effort will be put in all round.
Already Fine Gael deputies and senators are going around Leinster House with important-looking files under their arms and each has been designated his or her electoral area in each constituency.
Fine Gael seems to be ahead with its organisation, but this will be closely followed by the other parties within the next few days, once the candidates have been selected.
Incidentally, the selection of Shane Cassells should give a windfall of Labour votes to Fianna Fáil. The Cassells name is high there both in social and sporting terms. The Labour organisation in Meath is almost on the floor since the defection of Brian Fitzgerald from the party.
The party leaders will be demanding full input and hard work from all of their colleagues. They well know that much is at stake and no excuses will be entertained. Diligent hard work will be demanded and expected.
A little-trumpeted event took place in Leinster House during the week in the public restaurant. The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party missed out on a Christmas Dinner and appropriately enough on the first day of spring, February 1st, the party held a dinner to cover its Christmas bash and also to acclaim 10 years of leadership of Fianna Fáil by Bertie Ahern.
It was a modest, but warm occasion and presided over by Séamus Kirk, the leader of the parliamentary party. So much has happened in that decade. Fine Gael and Labour have new leaders, the Green Party has acquired a leader (having previously eschewed the idea of having one at all), and Mary Harney, of course, is the longest serving leader, having taken over in the Progressive Democrats in 1993.
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Aside from that, the North goes on and on and on. Both Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair feel deeply betrayed at the fact that they were in serious talks when this bank raid was being planned. The Progressive Democrats have taken the high moral ground on the issue and would wish for Sinn Féin to be frozen out.
However the Taoiseach and Tony Blair have quite properly devised a strategy where though cool in their relationship with Sinn Féin, they will endeavour to lay out a programme of work which will attempt to fill the void.
Noel Treacy gave an excellent speech in the Seanad during the week on behalf of the Taoiseach on the peace process. It was during a private members' motion sponsored by the Progressive Democrats.
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The constituency of Dublin South East is exciting great interest among the Soldiers of Destiny.
Eoin Ryan, holder of the Fianna Fáil seat has gone to Europe and will not be contesting the next general election - hence the rush into the area by likely and unlikely candidates.
These include Chris Andrews, Cllr Gary Keegan, Senator Mary White, Senator John Hanafin and Jim O'Callaghan. Mary White has started her campaign, holding public meetings on childcare and other matters of concern to a constituency such as this.
This brings up the question again of early conventions for a general election which is over two years away. The early selection can work brilliantly sometimes, and in other cases can be seen as a disadvantage, particularly if something happens in the interim to a candidate who has already been selected.
As Harold Macmillan once famously answered when asked what could affect an election: "Events dear boy, events."
Drapier warns colleagues not to rule Senator Mary White out of the equation. She is determined and resilient and will entertain no setback in her quest. Many politicians do not believe she could win the convention and thus the seat, but Drapier is not so sure. Watch this space.
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Brigid McManus, formerly with the Department of Finance is now the new secretary general in Education. She will be sorely missed in Finance and there is no doubt her arrival in Education has been warmly welcomed from administrators and politicians right across the spectrum.
She is easy, affable, clever and approachable and it is difficult to imagine someone with all of those attributes, but Brigid McManus has them in spades.
There is general goodwill and Drapier feels her time in Education will be fruitful and progressive.