Tánaiste, Labour needs to keep an eye on Bruton and Shatter

DEAR Tánaiste,I wanted to congratulate you on a really good speech to the party conference at the weekend.

It wasn’t an easy speech, and I’m guessing it wasn’t really aimed at the audience in the hall.

For example, you avoided some of the touches I probably wouldn’t have been able to resist if I’d been drafting it — no digs at the opposition, no sideswipes at some of the crazier policies they advocate. There wasn’t even a mention of the fact that Labour celebrated its 99th year by electing a President of Ireland — that would have guaranteed a roar from the crowd who remember how skilled Michael D used to be at winding up an audience.