FF’s Euro wing is trying to wriggle between a rock and a hard place

THE budget is still nearly three weeks away and speculation is already mounting about the Government’s ability to get it through the Dáil. Against all expectations when this government was formed, the Greens have developed a limpet-like grip on power. Only grim death will separate them from ministerial office, it seems.

No, it’s the Fianna Fáil backbenchers who are proving restless. Quite a few of them must be asking themselves whether they’re better off hanging on in there until 2011 or 2012 — or causing a general election and trying to win reelection as independent mé féiners on a “no tax rises, no spending cuts” platform.

Relations between the Soldiers of Destiny are a little fractious right now — hardly surprising given their opinion poll ratings. A clue to how bad things are has come in the shape of an obscure battle over where Fianna Fáil should sit in the European Parliament. Yes, it’s a long way away and few of us quite know what they do in the hemisphere — or care very much, in many cases — but, trust me, these are life-and-death issues to MEPs and it does affect how well they are able to deliver for their constituents.