Drapier: At the risk of boredom, Drapier returns to the scene of the byelections in Meath and North Kildare. These byelections form the underlying theme of Leinster House talk. One clear point emerges.
In both constituencies almost all candidates are of high calibre and intelligence, and any of them would make a particularly good TD.
This is heartening and much-commented upon by all colleagues in both Houses. It gives a lie to the cynicism abroad about politicians, and suggestions that people of such good character are not drawn to public service.
It looks like a female battle in North Kildare between Áine Brady and Catherine Murphy, both fine candidates and both are everywhere, lively, bright and indefatigable.
Paddy McNamara, the Labour candidate, is running a solid, quiet campaign, and is not to be underestimated.
A lot depends on these byelections. Not in numbers in Dáil Éireann but in the effect they will have on the next general election, hence the intense interest.
In Meath the battle appears to be between Shane Cassells for Fianna Fáil and Shane McEntee for Fine Gael. Again, both good candidates. Good luck to them all. Democracy is being well served in the conduct of the campaigns, the calibre of candidates and content of what they have to say.
So we have had the Mullingar Accord between Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte followed by the Dublin Accord for both byelections.
Both parties will be keen to see if the pacts bring dividends which can presage a stronger pact in the forthcoming election. But where are the Greens in these arrangements?
In that regard, a more important question emerges. There is no formalised pact between Fianna Fáil and the PDs. It sounds ridiculous because, after all, they have been in a formal accord for the last seven years with Fianna Fáil in government and yet have not concluded such an arrangement for both byelections.
They should formally announce a voting pact in both constituencies - particularly important for Fianna Fáil in North Kildare where the PD candidate, Senator Kate Walsh, will garner a decent vote which, if transferred, could make the difference to Áine Brady.
Will they do it? Despite the fact that Mary Harney has said there will be an informal arrangement on the ground, a formal announcement towards the end of the campaign could mean much in the final result. All agree that transfers will be decisive in Kildare North.
On Tuesday last on the RTÉ 6pm and 9pm news, we had the parade of the Independents led by their chief Finian McGrath. He was joined by Paudge Connolly, Marian Harkins, Tony Gregory, James Breen and Dr Jerry Cowley, all proclaiming their allegiance to the Independent candidate in Kildare North. There has been no sighting of this merry band of Independents on the hustings, and inquiries from colleagues have not yielded any such sighting.
Perhaps the weather is too cold for these hardy annuals to venture forth into the highways and byways - or perhaps they are reserving their presence for the last few days.
The RTÉ coverage packed a punch, but where's the beef?
The saga of the North continues, but the big picture remains. The Irish electorate is well tuned into the situation, and Drapier's colleagues report that on the doorsteps there is a fair appreciation of the bigger picture, ie keeping the peace process intact and the internal machinations which have come about following the Northern Bank robbery.
Last week was interesting - Gerry Adams's personal rating substantially down but Sinn Féin remaining the same. However, it is usually the leader who receives the first blow, followed by the fall in party support.
The Northern debate has had an effect on Leinster House politics, with debates in both upper and lower Houses. It has marked the improved emergence of Enda Kenny who is solid and substantial in the debates on the matter, in a different way from Pat Rabbitte. The country has been well served by the three leaders, Bertie Ahern, Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte in their ongoing management of this sensitive issue.
The McCartney family is visiting Dublin again next week on International Women's Day to meet the women politicians of all parties who will show them their solid support. A fine family, dignified, articulate and determined. What adds weight to their clear principled stand is that they are avowed Sinn Féin voters, hence the sense of authority given to what they have to say.
Drapier has one worry. There should not be any manipulation of them by the wider political spectrum. But they are strong and they are a family united in grief, and will stick together in their quest for evidence.
Compensation culture has emerged again in Irish society. Army deafness claims have finally ended, but new potentially huge areas of claims against the State have emerged. We have had the hepatitis scandal, the organ-retention scandal, the residential abuse cases and now the illegal charging by nursing homes.
Of course, people should have their rights realised, but will the cash cow be able to withstand the claims?
The late John Kelly TD made a powerful prescient speech in Mayo years ago in which he forecast this situation. The emergence of some solicitors as "ambulance-chasers" sounds an unseemly and distasteful note.
Leinster House is a rumour mill at the best of times and now it's on overdrive. Usually what begins as a guess at the top of a Leinster House corridor becomes a stated fact by the time the end of the corridor is reached.
The pending Travers report on charging by nursing homes has evoked wild rumours on a daily basis this week. Top officials and politicians are to be named, it seems. Whether this emerges or not, it certainly will mark a turning point in civil servant/poli-tician relationships.
There is no doubt that Mary Harney is determined to get to the bottom of it all, and people will be glad that she is doing so. We all await developments.