‘Embraced by a new family’

WHAT a non-stop first week. Although, what few people knew was that I’d begin it with a bit of revenge.

The Fine Gael Press Office has spent five weeks doing their damndest to make sure I was never photographed in the vicinity of my electric scootery-type thing — my Segway. But I’m pretty hard to manage so Monday was my day for revenge. I turned up at my son’s school to talk to them about the election campaign full in the knowledge that an RTÉ cameraman would be there to see me arrive. Unbeknownst to the press office, I deliberately, and with malice of forethought, ensured that this man and his Segway should never be parted. I turned up to the jubilation of the kids that were more excited about my mode of transport than there were about my election victory. Revenge was sweet.

Tuesday was the big day. Friends, relatives and supporters had been invited to the Dáil for my first day. I had been advised what would happen but I had no real idea what was waiting for me. As I was strolling up Molesworth Street with Mary, Harry and Alison in tow, I could see quite a crowd on the plinth. The Fine Gael Parliamentary Party had turned out in force, along with supporters and friends. So had the media. It was a great event. The energy and enthusiasm of so many well-wishers was palpable. Enda Kenny was wonderful and his welcome profuse. I had said when I left RTÉ that it felt like I had left a family behind but, here on the plinth, the welcome I was being given made it clear to me that I was being embraced by a new family. It was a fantastic experience, I knew I would never be alone.

My entrance to the Dáil Chamber followed shortly after. The ushers warned me about how steep the steps were, it certainly wouldn’t do to slip. I waited at the top of the stairs along with Maureen O’Sullivan — the new independent TD for Dublin Central. She was introduced before Paul Kehoe, FG’s Chief Whip, led me down. The Fine Gael Front Bench and Enda were first to greet me and then I was brought over to Fianna Fáil. It was a strange moment as I met Taoiseach Brian Cowen. As he shook my hand, I felt like I was meeting an old friend. He’d been Minister for Finance for four budgets and I had been the reporter covering his “beat”. I had grown reasonably fond of him during that period and it was very strange to be here in front of him as he welcomed me into the Dáil.

I wonder now how long that sense of fondness will last especially since I make no bones about the fact that my objective is to get his government out of power! Either way, I still have great regard for the man.

Wednesday was “Maiden Speech Day”. I gave all the FG-ers a bit of a heart attack by disappearing off for a cup of coffee 20 minutes before I was due to speak. You see, I’d been sitting for hours listening to the No Confidence Debate and I needed a coffee. I was due to speak at 12.15 and at 12.05 I finished the coffee and started heading back to the Dáil Chamber. That seemed like loads of time to me to get into position, for years in RTÉ I never arrived in studio until the last minute. I was cool as a breeze but I didn’t realise was the panic I had caused. Fine Gael had sent out a search party and I had 10 missed calls on my phone.

When I got to speak, I wasn’t sure how I’d say it, but I knew what I wanted to say so I just started talking about the reason I’d entered the political fray. I couldn’t believe how quickly the time went and, suddenly, I was told my time was up. Fortunately Michael Ring, who I was sharing the time with, was in a very generous mood. He gave me a “Fool’s Pardon” and allowed me to steal most of the time for which I was grateful.

By Thursday, I was a bit more used to the antics in the Dáil which, to be honest, on Tuesday I thought were pretty rude. That was the day when three ministers were snoozing when the Taoiseach was speaking. I had been struck too by how many TDs were having conversations to each other in the seats.

But they’re all up to their eyeballs. I’ve been amazed as to how much work is going on in the Dáil. There are meetings taking place every minute and hour of the day, delegations coming and going at the rate of knots, committee meetings taking place, constituents calling in. It’s a hive of activity the like of which I never expected. The one thing that has struck me though is how helpful most people are. The ushers and Oireachtas staff are a dream and the TDs and senators, from all parties, have been going out of their way to show me the ropes.

There’s no doubt this is a good place to be and I’m delighted so far that I’ve joined in the fray.