FF dissidents should realise there is no future in economic decadence

AS Charlie Haughey might have put it, I think there is some dissatisfaction with the (FF) leadership at the moment. Forty years ago, in the wake of the Arms Trial, the issue was policy; today, the grumblers claim their differences with the Taoiseach are presentational.

The suspicion must be that is just a code. Soldiers of Destiny are permitted presentational differences but, as the dwindling size of the parliamentary party demonstrates, policy differences are another matter.

Haughey overestimated the degree of unhappiness in 1970 and Lynch served as a very successful leader for another nine years. By the time you read this, following last night’s parliamentary party meeting, we will be better able to gauge Brian Cowen’s shelf life.