DRAPIER thinks he is speaking for most of his colleagues when he says he is heartily sick of the constant and unfair criticism of Dail and Seanad members by "know it all" commentators who have made their name by endless knocking. Take, for instance, the article in the Sunday Independent last week by the supremo of that ilk, Gene Kerrigan.
He started his article by stating "send in the clowns", referring to the one day debate on crime. He then went on to state that the "politicians came back from their holidays", which latter statement shows the man's ignorance as to what really goes on in the Dail. Many journalists allege that the often empty seats in the Dail are an indication of the politicians' lack of interest in the subject under discussion and yet, they themselves, often "ramble in" to Leinster House around lunchtime to latch onto some issue to meet their deadlines.
Drapier challenges these commentators to play a more active part in the affairs of our legislature by turning up more often, staying longer and writing articles that would be more constructive and less inclined to knock the frailties of personalities who, by reason of their vote from the electorate, have more right to speak out than these commentators.
Perhaps some of these high profile commentators might also like to put their name forward for the next election? No fear of it they would be required to work a lot harder for a lot less money. Taking up the challenge they might prove that they have, after all, a social conscience.
Speaking of human frailties, the same Mr Kerrigan "had a go" at Senator Dan Keily who was on the wrong side of the law. Most of Drapier's colleagues would have sympathy for the colourful Dan Keily particularly after the extremely sarcastic article by Mr Kerrigan. Is it being suggested that the 200 odd senators and TDs are without blemish? We will be the first to admit that we ourselves are nothing more than human just as are some of Mr Kerrigan's own colleagues who themselves have fallen foul of the law. Mr Kerrigan does not need to look too far.
Drapier noticed this week a report in one of the daily papers regarding demands from political parties for changed opening hours for Leinster House. Drapier can confirm that this is a constant gripe with his colleagues, in that while the hours of work in the capital city have tended to begin earlier and earlier, the way in which Leinster House is run has not followed suit.
It is the case that a lot of our rural members often remain in Leinster House until the "wee small hours" and try to return as early as possible in the morning only to find that the doors are shut. The only way a member can get into the House early in the morning is if he or she is lucky enough to arrive at the same time as a supplier and, even if they then gain entry, breakfast cannot be obtained until the restaurant opens at 10 a.m. Drapier can foresee a push for developments in this regards.
GAY Mitchell returned to the limelight with a bang this week. His contribution on the crime debate was met with howls of protest from leading judiciary figures and particularly from Mr justice Liam Hamilton and retired Justice Seamus Egan, who cried foul. Gay may have followed a populist theme but at the same time left himself (and ourselves) open to the criticism that we were looking for someone else to blame. Gay may have touched a chord with the man or women in the street", whereas the members of "high society" said "tut tut". Hardly a public meeting on crime goes by without extensive criticism of the judiciary at all levels and Gay may have only been articulating this.
Drapier has a suspicion that, apart from this, Gay may have been, to a certain extent, "hitting back". Recently, a few district court judges had been, in the opinion of many in here, way over the top in their criticism of the legislature and Gay may have been lashing back on our behalf.
We learned this week that the Minister for Education, Niamh Bhreathnach, had hired yet another set of consultants in order to improve her image. Fianna Fail's Micheiil Martin certainly had a point when he called all of this into question particularly from the point of view of the spending of taxpayers' money. Drapier had a few words of advice for the Minister. Drapier thinks that this type of hiring shows a complete inability to understand the lesson which should have been learned from the Dublin West by election debacle for the Labour Party. It is certainly true that Labour Party members have an image problems, but Drapier warns that the spending of taxpayers' money in order to (supposedly) improve that image is dangerous logic. No sooner had this news emerged then the same Minister's image took a hammering over the news that a 15 year old boy who was convicted of attempted rape had absconded from a Department of Education detention centre after only a few days. Drapier pities the Minister having to come out and state the Department's position on this. Similarly, the Minister poured even more fuel on the waters in regard to the teacher/pupil ratio problem in primary schools when she stated that only 55 out of 94 national "schools could retain their teacher numbers. Drapier thinks that she may fall between two stools on this.
Drapier previously referred to many U-turns by the Minister and he thinks that this partial U-turn by the Minister may end up landing her with the worst of both worlds.
THE recriminations were flying this week now that payday for the lawyers on beef tribunal is nigh.
The amounts awarded are astronomical and are bound to make the general public all the more cynical of the way in which our State administration works. What did the tribunal achieve? At the end of the day, in Drapier's opinion, very little apart from giving one set of politicians an opportunity to have a go at "the other crowd". In Drapier's opinion Pat Rabbitte on Thursday's Morning Ireland was indulging in some revisionism. He stated that he and others had uncovered all types of dirty dealings. But Drapier asks why then were costs awarded to those against whom he was making allegations? Pat also tried to deny that he himself was awarded massive costs. Drapier feels that Pat was being somewhat disingenuous on this point. The very same could have been said by Larry Goodman in counter to the previous day's massive publicity regarding the fees awarded to him and his company. All in all the tribunal was a "win win situation" (at least for the lawyers).
Ruairi Quinn must be a happy man this week. All the signals are that as a result of better economic growth forecasts he will be in a posit ion to hand out tax goodies in next year's Budget. The Coalition parties were individually sticking out their chest as to which of them was responsible and as to how the benefits should be dispersed.
This news certainly shortens the odds on an early general election in the New Year. So, the reason Drapier must end here is because he must return (not to his holiday) but to his constituency work. Bye for now.