Drapier: Well, the Twelve Days of Christmas have well come and gone, and the Houses of the Oireachtas were back this week for a relatively quiet week.
There was much carping because the Taoiseach and Ministers could not be put on the griddle, so to speak, but there will be plenty of time for stoking the griddle and plenty of material for stoking.
There was a scattering of talk this week in the almost deserted corridors about the tribunals and in particular how the Mahon tribunal is shaping up. With the onset of the module on Quarryvale, the political temperature will definitely be raised with the daily appearance of some very well-known figures.
There was an unreal atmosphere about Leinster House this week, mainly based on the paucity of the agenda in each House, but also a palpable air of waiting and the expectation of the looming conventions, first for the European elections and then in a few months the hard slog of the local and European campaigns.
It is not an exaggeration to state that the outcome of the next general election will be in the context of the results of the June outing. The parties are putting a huge effort into the structures and planning for these campaigns. All over the country there are meetings at regional, county and local level, and the administrative and organisational skills of each party will be tested to the full.
Drapier is of the opinion that the omens for Fianna Fáil are better than the commentators are saying. Most candidates have been chosen, and the campaigns are moving along smartly. The largest party has resources, but more importantly political know-how built up over years. However, other parties are doing the same and the pace is picking up momentum.
That major New Year interview with Enda Kenny in The Irish Times in retrospect was a bit strange. The whole tone was downbeat - no presidential candidate, lower-than-expected Fine Gael returns in the local elections and a general air of minimising expectations. Of course, this is a well-used political ploy, but somehow the word is that this particular interview was based on the facts of pretty informative and widespread surveys, but it's early times yet, and there is so much to play for.
Isn't the presidential race heating up nicely?
It's amusing in one way because the President has not yet made clear her intentions, but the general acceptance is that she will wish to have a second term. The political opinion is that this lady will not be beaten. This is based on her accessibility, her ability, her intellect and, to use an old-fashioned word, her charm.
It is most interesting to listen to the voices of Labour, and even more interesting the voices that are not heard. Drapier believes that initially the leadership in Labour did not want a candidate and that there was a degree of dialogue and even tension between "Old" Labour as in the original Labour Party and "New" Labour as exemplified by DL.
Old Labour wanted a contest, seeing a rerun of the Mary Robinson campaign, which heralded a new dawn for Labour. Michael D. is a good-quality candidate, artistic, interesting and highly analytical in his international viewpoints.
But, as with many artistic people, he is sometimes delightfully dotty. An attractive quality, which would stand him in good stead with the voters, but the sheer competence of the current holder will certainly be difficult to topple.
Enda Kenny is in a quandary, but very clear in Fine Gael's memory is the reminder of Alan Dukes caught in the same quandary and hastening his own downfall by the fielding of their subsequent candidate Austin Currie.
Long, long ago, the whole issue of the election of a President of Ireland was quiet, and any campaign carried out with a degree of decorum. But times have changed, and presidential campaigns now carry a high degree of electoral liability or credit. Hence, the early manoeuvrings.
Will Bertie carry out his reshuffle after June? Remember how he failed to do so when he formed a Government in 2002. This time Bertie will wield the axe, not in a wholesale scalping, but nonetheless far-reaching enough. At junior level there may be some natural vacancies due to the European elections. At senior level Joe Walsh and Michael Smith are constantly mooted for demise - but caveat emptor!
Bertie will want to place his two seniors in two fine jobs, and there are many whispers about likely vacancies for them in other spheres.
Much gossip, too, about the appointment of Alan Dukes to the chair of the Committee on the Future of Agriculture. A fine appointment. Is the talk of John Bruton's appointment to Washington a little premature? Fianna Fáil showing an inclusive side is a little unreal, but nevertheless it is happening. And, of course, Noel Dempsey has asked Garret the Good to join his "Vision of Education" Commission. All heady stuff.
Coming back to the issue of tribunals. It is becoming clear that the activities of lobbyists need to regulated. Some time ago Labour produced a private member's Bill on the topic, which was voted down. Now the Government is planning its own legislation, and not before time.
Making introductions, arranging meetings between interested parties and ministers is all fine and dandy, but that can so easily spill over into lobbying of another kind when arms are twisted and ears are bent in an invidious way.
Yes, it happens in most democratic countries, but hidden away among many of the emerging scandals, one can discern the hand of the lobbyist.
It is going to be a difficult one to regulate, but in the open, transparent and accountable society, which all political parties are endeavouring to bring about, it is important that the role of a lobbyist be clearly defined.