Dáil Sketch/Michael O'Regan:Fine Gael's Richard Bruton outlined his analysis of the Fianna Fáil succession stakes in the Dáil yesterday. He faced Tánaiste Brian Cowen, who was taking the Order of Business in the absence of the Taoiseach.
Mr Bruton said: "Yesterday, the outgoing Taoiseach indicated that a Bill being introduced to the House should have two weeks before it is debated on the second stage.
"The would-be incoming taoiseach is telling us that we will have two working days before the Finance Bill is to be considered by the House. Is that an indication that the Bill is so light that we do not need to give it serious consideration?"
The "would-be incoming taoiseach" wore an impassive expression, keeping any thoughts about his leadership options very much to himself.
Mr Bruton continued in full flight, referring to the troubles relating to his personal finances encountered by the "outgoing Taoiseach".
He remarked: "Confusion has been created as to whether the provision of a tax clearance certificate is the same as an application for one. Will the Tánaiste clarify, or make provision in the Finance Bill so it is clarified, that individuals who apply for a tax clearance certificate have not fulfilled their requirements and no person can simply, on application for a tax clearance certificate, present themselves as being tax compliant?"
In terse tones, Mr Cowen noted that the Finance Bill would be published later in the day. "It relates to many issues that have already been announced in the Budget statement which the deputy has been able to study since December 5th, 2007," he added.
"Two days of deliberation before a second stage debate is abnormal," snapped Mr Bruton.
Mr Cowen said: "As the deputy knows, committee stage will be held for many hours and days with even some members looking over at me wondering when it will end because it will go on for so long."
Mr Cowen should surely understand that after a six-week Dáil recess, deputies might be glad of such parliamentary occupational therapy.
The political invective was equally strong, and the decibel levels occasionally louder, when the House resumed the debate on the Mahon tribunal confidence motion. By then, the "would-be incoming taoiseach" had left the chamber to study the Finance Bill.
Paul Gogarty, of the Green Party, declared: "Fine Gael is taking money from developers. You have the Galway tent, you also have the Punchestown tent. Show some moral leadership."
As the heated exchanges continued, Fine Gael chief whip Paul Kehoe jumped to his feet, demanding that Mr Gogarty produce evidence of his claim.
Fine Gael colleague Shane McEntee remarked: "The Green Party is yellow. Its roots are gone."
Strongly defending the "outgoing Taoiseach", Fianna Fáil's Dr Martin Mansergh invoked the words of the 17th-century French writer Nicholas Boileau, who had once said: "Le vrai peut quelquefois n'être pas vraisemblable: the truth can sometimes be improbable." Mr Ahern, who relies on a more homespun philosophy, would surely agree.