Time for Fine Gael front-benchers to ensure Kenny never walks alone

GOING to a political party conference like Fine Gael’s may be safer than attending an office Christmas party.

Every year, alcohol disinhibits attendees at the office party into doing things which make it difficult for them to respect themselves in the morning.

Although the same should happen at Ard Fheiseanna, it rarely does. Very few of the participants end up resigning from the cumann or not speaking to each other as a result. Of course, it may be that they have so many other opportunities for getting riled with each other that a) they don’t need to waste a good knees-up on it, b) they’d be better to do it at home and get it into the local rag than do it somewhere like Millstreet, and c) the one sure way to get the leadership cross with you is to take attention away from them by having a nasty spat at the annual Party party.