Dáil Sketch / Miriam Lord:Serious consequences? No need to talk to your average Government deputy about serious consequences. They know all about them. Their constituents talk to them about little else these days.
They've seen the footage of frightened women returning to cancer clinics. They've heard enough horror stories from people to know how serious the consequences of a chaotic health system can be.
So, no need to talk to your average Government deputy about serious consequences. They know all about them.
The chief whip made sure they did.
It's funny, the way political priorities always come first. That's the way of business in the Dáil.
If - as Bertie once said - "the foot was on the other foot" and today's Opposition occupied the business end of the house, their deputies would be voting confidence tonight in their minister for health.
Or suffer the consequences.
It must come as great comfort to the women who were told they don't have cancer, only to be informed years later that their test results might have been unreliable, that their local deputies understand the meaning of "serious consequences".
That was the phrase bandied about in the newspapers, on the airwaves and in the corridors of Leinster House yesterday when speculation continued over whether any Fianna Fáil deputies would cross the floor and support the Opposition's no-confidence motion in Minister for Health Mary Harney.
It would never happen, predicted the old hands. The reason was simple: "Serious consequences."
Like what? A call from a GP about medical test results? A life-threatening bout of MRSA? Four days on a trolley in A&E?
No. Expulsion from the parliamentary party. On the scale of things, it can't get much worse than that.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore could feel his opponents' pain. In his view many Government backbenchers are unhappy with the state of the health service and have lost confidence in their Minister.
"Frankly," he told the Taoiseach, "if you were going to give your deputies a free vote on this issue in the House, I don't think there would be any doubt in the outcome."
The six Government backbenchers present for Leaders' Questions looked on sullenly. They weren't enjoying themselves.
Bertie Ahern had no intention of letting Eamon away with that sort of talk.
"If you had a free vote on your side of the House a large number of your deputies would vote for Minister Harney tomorrow night," he countered, as the Opposition snorted at his impertinence.
"Let's have it so," invited Michael D. Higgins.
Bertie told the Labour leader that his deputies would be so eager to rush into the Chamber and show their support for Harney "yis would be holding them back at the door". Gilmore called his bluff. "I accept the Taoiseach's offer. Let's have a free vote on the issue."
During the Order of Business, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny rowed in with his support.
So too did Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, who spoke at length.
The Ceann Comhairle told him he had to be brief.
"If you were a member of Sinn Féin," began the verbose Ó Caolain, "you would know that, for me, this is brief."
Caoimhghín, a man who is more flowery than field of daffodils, had cracked a joke. And against himself at that. He brought the House down.
The motion of no confidence began at seven in the evening. Minister Harney came out fighting. Speaking without notes, she spoke with passion as she defended her stewardship of the Department of Health.
But Fine Gael's health spokesman James Reilly proved a fiery match. He will be a formidable opponent for the Minister.
All supposing Harney is still in her job by tomorrow night. Which she will.
Mind you, any deputy brave enough to rebel will return to their constituency a hero.
Might be worth risking the consequences to show they understand the true meaning of "serious".