SMOKES & DAGGERS
A mischievous mix of political asides with JOHN DRENNAN
IN the wake of a series of Dáil spats over the constitutional questions of polygamy and thruples, one FG minister ironically observed: ‘Who is going to stand up for polygamy.’ A FG TD beside him noted ‘maybe there should be a polygamy party’, conjuring up an image of a Leinster House polygamy party which Smokes will never be able to unsee.
SPEAKING of thruples, alert TDs noted a certain bounce surrounding the Independent Ireland party of two TDs – Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue – last week. One astute source told Smokes: ‘That pair look like a hen clucking before they hatch an egg: they may be on the verge of acquiring a third TD.’ Watch this space.
SENATORS were given an early break this week after a mini revolt over the possibility they might have to work for four days in a week. After the indignity of having to sit on a Monday, there was much discontent amongst Government senators over the prospect of sitting on the Thursday. Happily, after much behind the corridors grumbling, a kindly Government gave the exhausted senators the Thursday off.
IN the wake of the departure of David Norris, FG Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer ebulliently congratulated Fine Gael Senator Paddy Burke ‘on his elevation to the status of Father of the House.’ ‘There is no need to highlight that,’ came the ripote from the less than happy Burke. The senator is less than keen for anyone to know he is now the longest-serving senator, as one source noted, ‘It brings the axe a little closer if they [county councillors] think you’ve been around for too long’.
COMMENTING on the timing of the election one veteran Dáil figure informed us that their years of experience told them: ‘We will spend all this year speculating about what month we will have it this year and actually have it in 2025.’