Harris's high dudgeon in Dáil restaurant; Donie Cassidy heads for US; Callely's Christmas card; Norris's National Library donation; Gormley's pleasant climate change in Bali
'Five very large egos at a very small table over a very long lunch." That's how one of the participants described a lively luncheon in the Dáil restaurant on Wednesday, when four senators and one former senator gathered to mark the festive season.
The five were Joe O'Toole, who organised the little bash, David Norris, Shane Ross, Eoghan Harris and former senator Prof John A Murphy.
This monumental clash of ego and intellect ensured that the five diners disagreed on every possible topic under the sun, except the subject of their collective brilliance, upon which they were all agreed.
The highlight of the meal came just before the arrival of the Christmas pudding, when Harris flounced out in high dudgeon, having argued with John A Murphy throughout the lunch about revisionism. The two men are firm, if occasionally fiery, friends.
Repeatedly, the other three were reduced to the role of bystanders as the debate intensified and passions flared.
"We just sat there like an extra side order of vegetables, and you wouldn't describe us as shrinking violets," said one of the Senators yesterday. "It got a bit personal at times, names were bandied about and, eventually, Harris stormed out.
"The professor, who is in his eighties now, is still as mischievous as ever. Every time the row died down, he would give Eoghan another poke and it would start up all over again," said another.
"Persecution of Protestants was a big bone of contention, although the two Protestants at the table barely got a look in. Joe O'Toole was merrily pouring paraffin on the fire."
Our third confidant takes up the story. "There were a number of attempted walkouts by Senator Harris, who got very hot under the collar. There was a partial rise of the haunches and the napkin clutched in the fist. We managed to quell three attempts, but this merely delayed the launch. He walked out when the third course arrived."
Harris is very fond of walking out. He did it recently during a discussion with Fintan O'Toole on Matt Cooper's radio show. Last Sunday, he was Ursula Halligan's guest on TV3's The Political Party. Having unburdened himself of his opinion that the Mahon tribunal is a waste of money and Bertie Ahern is the innocent victim of a media witch-hunt, Halligan dared to question him on what he had just said.
Whereupon Eoghan took grave umbrage at her approach, declared he did not expect this line of questioning, that it was a waste of time and he was going to leave. There was a partial rise of the haunches, as he asked if the show was live.
Ursula, very quietly and patiently, informed him that the show is recorded "as live" and what had just taken place would be broadcast. After a brief pause for reflection, and with some gentle coaxing from Ursula, he decided to stay put.
But back to the Dáil restaurant, where Harris, a well brought-up Cork boy, shook his host's hand before he stormed out. There was no opportunity to throw down money in a contemptuous fashion, as O'Toole had already paid the bill.
More from the Seanad, which is far more entertaining than the Dáil.
Isn't it marvellous news that Bertie Ahern has been chosen to accompany Senator Donie Cassidy on his trip to the US Congress next year? Donie, who is the Fianna Fáil leader in the House, informed colleagues earlier in the week "I hope to have the honour of representing this House when the Taoiseach delivers his address." He'll have a marvellous time there, because senators are far more important than congressmen in America.
Bertie and Donie should make a great team when they hit Capitol Hill, as both of them have difficulties with geography. Donie will be able to tell President Bush about the "Lisburn Reform Treaty." He mentioned it on a few occasions in the Seanad during the week.
And Bertie can ask George how things are faring in the "Guatapama" Bay detention centre.
Christmas card time, and as usual, Ivor Callely's latest yuletide greeting is eagerly awaited. Perhaps it was the disappointment of losing his Dáil seat, but this year, Ivor's card is very staid, with an old photograph of Leinster House on the front and a photo of the elegant Seanad chamber inside. Some recipients may confuse this with Ivor's drawing room in Clontarf, but that's far more opulent.
The Taoiseach's cards are going out very late this year. He decided to ditch the Christmas theme and instead, his card features a lovely orchid. This beautiful bloom was named "Bertie Ahern" in October 2004, when the Taoiseach paid a visit to the National Orchid Garden in Singapore.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Green leader John Gormley both chose pictures drawn by their children. Enda's card features Santa Claus and is drawn by his son Ferdia, while John's shows a Christmas tree, and is a joint effort by his children Ellen and Seán.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore sends us a card which shows a surreal image of Santa skiing down the side of the Labour Rose. Sinn Féin's leader in the Dáil, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, has opted for a snowy winter scene from Lough Major in Ballybay, Co Monaghan, with the river and hills and the local C of I church nestling in the corner.
Former Green Party leader and Minister for Food, Trevor Sargent, continues proselytising for native vegetables, and includes a handy chart telling you at what time of the year locally grown produce is in season. His card features a photograph of Cologne Cathedral and tells us it was taken on a trip to a food fair two months ago.
Finally, the best card by far comes from Fine Gael's Michael Ring. Michael, who is his party's spokesman on community, rural and gaeltacht affairs, got a roasting earlier this year when he admitted he can't speak Irish.
His card has a cartoon of Ring asking "What did you bring me this year, Santa?" "Lessons, Ringy" replies Santa. Inside, Santa is saying "Repeat after me: 'Nollaig Shona agus Ath-Bhliain fé mhaise.' " And a smiling "Ringy" is repeating it.
Former president and UN high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson returns home next week for a two-week Christmas break. She will be in the National Library at lunchtime on Monday, where she is guest speaker at a reception to mark the donation of the archive of Senator David Norris.
Most people are usually dead before their papers are sought or handed over to an institution. In Norris's case, he was asked by the keeper of manuscripts at the National Library if he would be willing to sell them his papers. He said he would hand them over, gratis.
"I feel a bit of a fraud and I feel it's all a bit of a hoax" says David modestly, "but it is very nice and very flattering to be asked."
The boxes and boxes of material cover three areas of his life. There is much material from the very early days of the gay rights movement in Ireland.
Mary Robinson represented the movement in their many court cases against the government when homosexual activity was outlawed here.
Then there are papers detailing the restoration of his own home on Dublin's North Great George's Street and the James Joyce Cultural Centre on the same street.
This leads on to his huge James Joyce collections and features acres of fascinating material.
Things are so uneasy in Fianna Fáil at the moment, Tánaiste Brian Cowen doesn't know the day or the hour when he might be called upon to step into the breach. Later, rather than sooner, but soon enough rather than too late, would be his choice.
To this end, he's getting in a little practice at unveiling statues and the like. This afternoon, he's at the county hall in Portlaoise to unveil officially a sculpture commemorating the bicentenary of the birth of the Laois patriot and revolutionary, James Fintan Lalor.
The sculpture, by Mayo artist Rory Breslin, depicts Lalor, who has jumped down from his plinth to stand among his people.
Biffo has never had a problem standing among his people. The worry is whether he is prepared, or has the inclination, to put himself up on a prime ministerial plinth.
It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. Minister for the Environment John Gormley was a busy man at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali this week, what with his speaking commitments, writing his very exciting blog, getting his photograph taken with a bicycle and taking Irish journalists out to dinner.
The happy Irish crew pitched up at a restaurant called Cu De Ta. It's name is a Balinese joke, based on the literal pronunciation of coup d'état. The restaurant in Seminak, up the coast from Nusa Dua where the conference was taking place, was chosen by Richard O'Brien, Irish Ambassador to Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, who is known for his excellent taste. He has a knock-out white modernist residence in Singapore (rented, not owned by us). Guests at the dinner included Paul Cunningham of RTÉ, Gormley's adviser, Liam Reid, and our own Frank McDonald. The Minister and his entourage stayed at the Grand Hyatt resort hotel in Nusa Dua.
Here's an extract from the Minister's thrilling daily blog from Indonesia. He's a bit peeved that some people were sneering at pictures of him wearing sandals: "From some of the reaction to my blog, there appears to be more comment on my attire, that is to say, the sandals I was pictured wearing yesterday. I can assure those who have concerns about my sartorial decisions that I will be 'suited and booted' from first thing tomorrow, when the official political discussions begin. And I can also assure you I haven't been letting the side down on the dress front. So far the dress code has been informal, and for a good reason: making sure that the air conditioning is kept to a minimum! It is 28° in Bali today, with humidity approaching 900." Fab'lus,John. It's been very nice here too, for December. May they all return with Montezuma's revenge and prickly heat.