Fianna Fáil backbenchers mock those happy days on the Lee side

DÁIL SKETCH:THE POLITICAL ghost of George Lee hovered in the Dáil chamber yesterday in the aftermath of the previous night's long Fine Gael postmortem on the one-time golden boy's sensational exit from party and politics.

Nerves were somewhat frayed, given the late hour at which the parliamentary party meeting had concluded.

Fianna Fáil remained gleeful that the negative media spotlight shining on the Soldiers of Destiny had been transferred in recent days to Fine Gael.

Government backbencher Sean Power rose in mock concern for Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and his deputy Richard Bruton.

Kenny and Bruton, probably much to their relief, were absent yesterday at an OECD meeting in France.

Lee was once meant to be part of the group. But time and circumstances had intervened, and the heady days of that Dublin South byelection were just an unfortunate memory.

Power wanted to know, on Bruton’s behalf, if the Government intended supporting the candidature of British Labour Pary deputy leader Harriet Harman for the UK rear end award.

This was a reference to newspaper photographs earlier this week of Bruton perusing some material on Harman’s chances of winning the prestigious award.

As for Kenny, the concerned backbencher asked Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, who was taking the Order of Business, if there were any suitable Fás courses to help him up his game.

It was all too much for veteran Fine Gael TD Sean Barrett. “Deputy Power is a smart ass and should look at the problems within his own party.’’

Fine Gael colleague Seymour Crawford was equally irate.

“This Order of Business has reached a new low,’’ he said.

Power grinned across at the Fine Gael benches as his Fianna Fáil colleagues gloried in the Opposition party’s discomfort.

Fine Gael TDs cheered colleague James Bannon when he sought an emergency debate on a variety of current problems, knowing that he had no hope of being granted it by Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern observed: “No wonder George Lee took flight.’’

Meanwhile, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore was in a politically chivalrous mood, accusing the Ceann Comhairle of repeatedly interrupting colleague Joan Burton when she raised issues on the Order of Business.

“Okay. Can the deputy summarise briefly?’’ said Kirk with the air of a kind but stern schoolmaster.

“I thank the Ceann Comhairle and I appreciate his new approach,’’ said Burton.

Gilmore had successfully defended his colleague’s political honour.

Fine Gael TDs later headed for their constituencies still grappling with the shock of Lee’s very public political hari-kari last Monday. Most were anxious to follow Kenny’s advice and move on.

Harold Wilson was so right. A week is indeed a long time in politics.