Drapier: Whether it was al-Qaeda or some other terrorist organisation which planted bombs in Madrid is of no consolation to the families of the 190 who died and the thousands who were injured.
The jury is still out and, despite the poor judgment shown by the Spanish government in making definitive claims, it might as easily have been Eta, or some other terror group. Yet Provisional Sinn Féin continues to operate in that shady world and invites "fraternal" delegates from other "revolutionary" organisations abroad to attend its ardfheis.
Democrats were forced to put up with this murky business for a quarter of a century until the Provisionals were brought to "Sunningdale for slow learners". This Good Friday we will be quarter-way through the next 25 years.
Drapier believes that this must now be made an issue for the coming local and European elections. Enough is enough; these anti-democratic bullies have swanned around for too long. Provisional Sinn Féin is misreading the signs, and the public and the democratic process have run out of patience with its duplicity.
RTÉ's special on the kidnap and killing of Shergar by Provisional Sinn Féin-IRA "fundraisers" is a timely reminder of the need to clear out this Augean stable, and there certainly is no pun intended.
No matter how many Provos rouse themselves to a mood of martyrdom, the dilution of democracy is not a price we can afford to pay. Drapier was struck by the clarity, balance and accuracy of one of the best pieces of radio journalism in recent times when Olivia O'Leary addressed this issue on her RTÉ Five-Seven Live slot earlier this month.
Ardfheis season continued with both Fianna Fáil and the Green Party annual get-togethers recently. Drapier was struck by the media photos of the FF faithful with forced appearances of almost desperate gaiety.
No amount of yelping can escape the fact that Fianna Fáil is in decline. It will be almost 18 out of 20 years in government by the next general election, and there is a growing desire among the electorate for a change of government, if only there was an alternative.
The Green Party conference gave the second real indication that such an alternative is shaping up. The first is the growing co-operation on joint motions in Dáil private members' time by Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens. Their joint motion on cuts in social welfare entitlements for widows and widowers was voted down by the Government on Wednesday last.
Sinn Féin supported the opposition motion. If it abandoned all paramilitarism its members could be full players in Dáil Éireann, joining with others in preventing and reversing injustice.
Drapier has said it before. A centre-left alternative to this right-wing government has real prospects of forming the next government, and perhaps the one after that.
The lopsided policies promoted by Fianna Fáil and the PDs have run their course.
The Palatine of Ranelagh, Michael McDowell, should hold on to some of his stomach-settling tablets when he has finished throwing up about Provo activists. This Government is in for a rough ride.
Mary Harney might want to escape from Enterprise, Trade and Employment to some new pasture, there to continue to claim that the PDs have some distinct contribution to make to public life. Few observers believe this any more. To quote Mae West: "She used to be Snow White, but she drifted".
Following the recent visit of Prince Charles, Drapier predicts a visit by his majestic mother within 18 months of this year's European and local elections. Drapier suspects she will skip across the Border while on some low-key visit to the North. Donegal or Sligo rather than Dublin might be where the ice is broken.
The latest bit of humour going around Leinster House is that newspaper headlines will soon blaze "Cowen to visit Ireland", and Dick Roche is actually being considered for the next EU Commission. Who makes these things up? Still, the Department of Foreign Affairs can't be run by any Tom, Dick or Brian, though the current team are performing competently. Drapier would find it hard to state the same about any other Government Department.
US ambassador James Kenny, whose grandfather was born in Swinford, Co Mayo, came here from Chicago where the family construction business is located. A family man, who may well be related to the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, he is quietly making a favourable impression on those who have met him. Something tells Drapier that he is set to become one of the most popular US ambassadors to Ireland.
Drapier was pleased to see Senator Ann Ormonde appointed to the Oireachtas Council of Europe delegation. She and her fellow senators Pascal Mooney, Maurice Cummins, Sheila Terry and Derek McDowell are good contributors to Seanad Éireann. Their Dáil colleagues, Barry Andrews, Michael Mulcahy, Jim O'Keeffe and Mae Sexton, are among a group of parliamentary contributors to what are dry but important areas of public policy.
Credit where it is due, the colleagues in Leinster House can sometimes make a real difference.
William Binchy is a decent, selfless and courageous man. Drapier does not see eye-to-eye with him on everything, but his recent contribution to The Irish Times on citizenship for children born to non-national mothers is typical of the man, and welcome.
We need more people like William Binchy. We need them in politics, in journalism and in society generally. There is an issue to be addressed here, but it should be addressed in a civilised manner and after due consideration of all arguments.What is impressive about Binchy is that he is not bound by that all-embracing, politically correct, safety-in-numbers, unhealthy approach to public policy issues which has gripped Irish journalists as much as politicians.
Irish society is being suffocated by a growing inability to respect and encourage diversity. Someone expressing a view which challenges perceived wisdom is considered almost eccentric. This is very unhealthy and an issue to which Drapier will return.