The new FF/PD government has had a short honeymoon and this weekend, like politicians everywhere, it starts its holidays. When Ministers return towards the end of the month they can expect to face a tough, hardworking session during which they will come under intense pressure from the opposition and expect no leeway inside or outside the Dail.
Labour may be weak but Fine Gael is strong, buoyed and confident. Although it lost power it gained seats in the June election - it firmly believes it did well during 2 1/2 years in office and is popular with the public. The front bench will be reshuffled in the autumn and moves are afoot to set up a special policy research unit based around the leader John Bruton, similar to that which worked so well for FF in opposition.
Several Rainbow programme managers and advisers are now at a loose end and being considered for positions. The strength of John Bruton's determination to lead his party back into power at the first possible opportunity was evident by his reluctance, on two occasions, to lose even one Dail vote. He didn't want a Dail deputy as a Presidential candidate and he wouldn't allow party stalwart Jim Mitchell to accept the Government's offer of the post of Ceann Comhairle. Labour had no such qualms.
FG has its Presidential strategy in motion but FF is in a quandary. Finding the right candidate is the first item the new Government must address in the autumn. After that comes a decision on whether or not a second tribunal into the Dunnes Stores payments is either wise or indeed feasible. Then there are the preparations for the new December budget, the need to curb promised tax cuts, decisions on EMU strategy, on EU funding for projects and on finding the money for the Hep C victims and the Army deaf. Bertie Ahern also has to watch the ceasefire and help the vital Northern talks get started on September 15th.