In recent years, budget night in the Dáil bar has been a rather dull and subdued affair.
The place used to be heaving during Fianna Fáil’s heyday. It got to a stage where the authorities had to remove all the high stools and freestanding tables for health and safety reasons.
But the austerity years saw a big change on budget nights, with the place nearly deserted save for a few morose tipplers.
The buzz was back this week. And while it was nothing near those riotous Celtic Tiger days, there was a decent crowd in on Tuesday.
Three main groups took up residence in various corners. Michael Noonan entertained a number of supporters from Limerick, Brendan Howlin was doing likewise with some guests from Wexford and Michael Fitzmaurice, newly elected deputy for Roscommon-South Leitrim, celebrated his first day in the Dáil with a large contingent of family and friends who travelled to Dublin for the occasion.
They based themselves in Buswells Hotel, and such was their number – two busloads – they had to go back and forth to Leinster House in batches.
”Not since Pee Flynn was first elected in 1977 has such a big crowd come up to support a new TD from the west,” remarked one Dáil veteran, full of admiration.
Despite their man losing out to the turfcutters' champion, Fianna Fáil extended a magnanimous welcome to the new man.
Among those offering congratulations to their neighbour was Galway East TD Michael Kitt and Roscommon Senator Terry Leyden. The group included Des Joyce, Fitzmaurice's director of elections, who will be taking over the Independent TD's seat on Galway County Council.
Meanwhile, Noonan and Howlin were in great form at the end of a very long day, having survived their first round of press conferences and media outings relatively unscathed.
The Minister for Finance was the centre of attention, and loving it. At one point, a Sunday newspaper reporter attempted to take a selfie with him, but she was spotted and quickly ushered out. Taking photographs in the bar is strictly against the rules.
Noonan, wreathed in smiles and surrounded by admirers, was the undoubted star of the show. But then a bigger attraction arrived and the fickle hangers-on instantly deserted him.
The new object of their affection was Dublin GAA hero Bernard Brogan, who was a guest of Darragh O'Brien, Fianna Fáil's leader in the Seanad. Darragh hosted a non-political budget-day dinner in the Oireachtas Members' Restaurant with a number of business people, including Brogan, who runs a successful sports marketing and management company.
The footballer, who comes from Castleknock, was swamped by fans, mainly of the middle-aged star-struck male variety. He was also swamped by Joan Burton.
The Tánaiste first spotted him in the restaurant. We hear she initially looked very concerned when she saw him in the presence of a Fianna Fáil politician. Bernard lives in her Dublin West constituency, which is going to be a very crowded and competitive place at the next general election.
The arrival of a handsome sports star on her patch would be something of a worry. However, Joan was relieved to discover he was there in a business capacity and very definitely not as a potential FF rival.
She told him she was working hard on the sports capital grant for their area and then held forth to the Oliver Plunkett’s clubman about nearby St Peregrine’s.
We understand that the Tánaiste, a big Dublin GAA fan, gave him a hearty hug. Brogan then repaired to the bar with the rest of the group.
Joan and colleagues dropped in soon after, when she made another lunge at Bernard and, this time, gave him a kiss. No kisses for Michael Noonan, though. Not with that cough.
MacSharry and White won’t make meal of it after she gets on his goat
It’ll be happy families tonight in Dublin 4 when Fianna Fáil holds its annual President’s Dinner. As the name suggests, party leader Micheál Martin is the main draw and the event is sold out.
Up to 1,000 Soldiers of Destiny are expected in the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, formerly the Burlington. Everyone will be on best behaviour and rumblings about Micheál’s leadership following Fianna Fáil’s defeat in the Roscommon-South Leitrim byelection will be off the menu.
Matters weren’t as harmonious at the parliamentary party meeting this week, with some members praising their leader to the hilt for his strong performance during the recent campaign (when he practically lived in Roscommon) and others not so enthusiastic.
Senator Marc Mac Sharry was not happy with his leader’s position on the Ukraine crisis. In the course of a wide-ranging contribution (he started out in Roscommon) Mac Sharry argued that Martin’s support of the Government’s policy on Ukraine could be damaging to Irish trade with Russia.
Senator Mary White kept interrupting him. Marc eventually lost his rag and rounded on his colleague.
According to one party member: "He hasn't sounded so angry since he called Enda Kenny a clown in the Seanad last year and accused him of urinating all over them."
Mac Sharry told Mary to shut up and declared to the room that he didn’t know how her husband put up with her. And then, to the accompanying clatter of jaws hitting the floor, he snapped: “You’re an ignorant goat!”
It’s a safe bet to assume Mary and Marc won’t be sitting at the same table tonight.
Enda is the icing on Deirdre’s cake
The Taoiseach had to fulfil a special engagement on Wednesday before attending the weekly Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting.
Long-time Fine Gael administrator Deirdre Chambers was celebrating a significant birthday and her colleagues organised a surprise party in Leinster House.
Deirdre joined Fine Gael in 1978 and worked with Garret FitzGerald, Alan Dukes, John Bruton, Michael Noonan and fellow Mayo native Enda Kenny.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan – with whom she worked when he was party whip – made a speech and gave Deirdre a huge bouquet.
There was a cake, iced in the Mayo colours with two pictures of Enda on top. One from his first canvassing card in 1974 and the other as a boy in his Mayo football kit.
Meanwhile, Kildare North TD Martin Heydon was also fielding congratulations this week. Martin's wife, Brianne, gave birth to their first baby on the morning of the budget.
Martin Denis weighed in at 8lb 3oz. Heydon, who made it back to Leinster House for the budget speech, joked that Martin jnr had been born just in time to get the extra €5 in the children's allowance.
And, while we’re at it, congratulations to Fianna Fáil communications boss and deputy general secretary Pat McParland, whose wife, Joanne, recently gave birth to their first child, Mary.
Irish and the three Rs a requisite of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is advertising on Jobs.ie for “a senior political adviser on the economy”.
The successful candidate will be responsible to “the 26 county political director” and “oversee the development and implementation of Sinn Féin’s political strategy on the economy and give economic advice to the directorate and party’s key economic spokespersons”. Key duties include “to help define Sinn Féin as the real opposition in the new Dáil and a credible alternative to the establishment parties”.
The new adviser, with the 26 Directorate, will “bring forward a political strategy paper on the economy for the 26 counties and in relation to the all-Ireland economy.
“This . . . should include . . . advice on where the party positions itself on key economic issues around job creation, public finances, banking, negative equity and the public sector, including commercial semi states. The strategy should be done in tandem with Sinn Féin MLAs and Ministers in the Assembly.”
Essential skills include excellent verbal, written, interpersonal and organisation skills and “commitment to the political philosophy of Sinn Féin”. There is no mention of qualifications or experience in the financial/economic area.
But an “ability to write as Gaeilge would be . . . an advantage.” Salary is listed as competitive with no mention of the average industrial wage.
Start sending in those CVs.
