What have our public representatives been up to on their 'Christmas' hols?

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go. That could have been the chatter by our TDs this morning as they finally officially ended their Christmas holidays. Don't tell me, please, that they were extremely busy since they last convened in Kildare Street. Doubtless some were, but what were our senators doing since they last met? The senate is a joke, always has been, and probably will continue to be. Their fat salaries could well be spent on essential issues and especially on health and education.

But two members of the Dail have been particularly active in recent weeks, Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore. Had they been as vocal and as trenchant of seemingly everything the government does, or does not do, last April and May they might well be running the country!

But they lost their chance-I know well that Pat Rabbit was Labour leader then-and I am sure that the attitude by Fianna Fail is that they can huff and puff but they will not blow the house down.

Indeed I wonder who is running the country at present. Hardly a day goes by but John Gormley or Eamon Ryan makes a major announcement on new government policy and this pair have certainly added a bit of zest into the ailing Fianna Fail ministers some of whom have gone totally silent over the past few months.

But I was disappointed when Enda Kenny raised the date for the Lisbon Referendum when he was in Europe last week. It is an old rugby saying that what happens on tour should stay on tour. This should also apply to politics and Mr. Kenny could have waited until to-day in the Dail to try and get an answer to this question.

I believe this referendum should be deferred until next year when it could be held in conjunction with the European and Local elections. It is very expensive to hold a referendum and, again, it would be much cheaper if held in conjunction with the European poll.

No dosser in sight!

There was a time when second level transition year was regarded as a 'doss' year. But this year hundreds of students took part in a competition sponsored by Colm Burke, the Fine Gael MEP, and sixty teams of three, or four, took part in a bid to win a four day trip to Brussels for themselves and their teacher. The students were asked to produce an artistic display on one of the following subjects (1), The EU and I-the relevance of the EU in my world, (2) Free Movement Of people-A European Triumph or (3) The Single market of the EU-Critical To My Future". The winners will be announced this Friday in Cork and I hope that a Limerick team is successful. But participation alone will be of benefit to the students. Congrats to former MEP, and now Dail Deputy, Simon Coveney on initiating this annual competition which will, surely, help young people to be more educated in European affairs.