As the new FG leader takes office, one of his first concerns will be to ensure his national debut at the ardfheis in three weeks' time is a stunning success. FG gathers in the RDS on March 2nd and 3rd, so immediately next week, the party hierarchy (i.e. the front bench), where many changes are expected, and the staff, where few changes are expected, will meet. The new leader will discuss how he can put his unique stamp on the occasion. Some 4,000plus of the faithful will be in Dublin and the leader's address will get the usual 60minute RTE television slot. It will be a difficult test for the leader, but Quidnunc understands the Celtic Snail will not feature.
AS the new FG leader takes office, one of his first concerns will be to ensure his national debut at the ardfheis in three weeks' time is a stunning success. FG gathers in the RDS on March 2nd and 3rd, so immediately next week, the party hierarchy (i.e. the front bench), where many changes are expected, and the staff, where few changes are expected, will meet. The new leader will discuss how he can put his unique stamp on the occasion. Some 4,000plus of the faithful will be in Dublin and the leader's address will get the usual 60minute RTE television slot. It will be a difficult test for the leader, but Quidnunc understands the Celtic Snail will not feature. It had been thought that John Bruton would take time to recover from last week's drama. Not so. He was in Leinster House, sorting papers and clearing the office. Just as he let Alan Dukes keep the position for a couple of years, Bruton, a very enthusiastic europhile, expects to remain for some time as vice chairman of the European People's Party. He left for Rome immediately after his successor was elected yesterday for a meeting of the Christian Democrats International, where he will be rubbing shoulders with world leaders from 90 political parties including, if he turns up, the new President of Mexico, Vicente Fox. If Bruton still has time on his hands as he sits on the backbenches, the most prolific author, of both fact and faction, in the Oireachtas, Maurice Manning, has suggested that he write his memoirs. There has been no response yet.