Bertie survives

PD leader Michael McDowell has backed Bertie Ahern following this evening’s debate in the Dail, so it looks as if the Irish Government will survive until next year’s elections.

One interesting feature of tonight’s debate was the way Sinn Fein’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin strayed wildly off-topic. Even though he delivered a generalised attack on the coalition’s record, I got the impression that he was one opposition leader not really trying to bring Ahern down. Perhaps that’s understandable with the November 24th deadline for a deal in the north in the offing.