Gate Crashing Fianna Fail?
It's only days since two American socialites made headlines for Now Fianna Fail find they have a guest in their party they weren't quite bargaining on.
Of course Gerry McHugh didn't crash the Fianna Fail party as such. Instead he joined their Fermanagh forum like other individual members in the county. But last night the Fianna Fail press office in Dublin didn't seem aware of his arrival, and today Fianna Fail sources said Mr McHugh hadn't made clear his status as an MLA when he applied for membership.
Mr McHugh may be part of Brian Cowen's party, but he will continue to sit as an independent at Stormont. Fianna Fail told me today they had no intention of seeking a formal places on the blue benches of Stormont and do not plan to contest the 2011 election.
Gerry McHugh's erstwhile colleague, Sinn Fein Chief Whip Caral NÃ Chuilin, insists he is "fast becoming a figure of political ridicule". He claims Fianna Fail is the best vehicle to forward his long term republican aims.
As I write, the Justice Bill has just passed its final stage through Stormont. Its the measure which will enable a local politician to take over a new Justice department. The debate largely rehearsed old arguments. In his concluding statement Martin McGuinness told the SDLP that whilst they claimed they were in favour of speedy devolution the only "real politik" way it would be achieved would be through a cross community appointment.
At one point John O'Dowd told Alex Attwood that the SDLP had convinced Sinn Fein of their candidacy for the justice job and Sinn Fein would support them. Is this an indication that republicans are getting cold feet about David Ford? Or is it just a sign that in an election the DUP could be relied on to veto the SDLP, whilst Sinn Fein would block the UUP?
Either way, after hours of debate even the MLAs seemed to have got tired of the same old arguments - the bill passed on a mercifully swift oral vote. Now it is back to the "real politik" world of DUP "community confidence" and Sinn Fein impatience.
Tonight Peter Robinson put out an apparently hard hitting statement which poured scorn on Declan Kearney's speech at Dunloy at the weekend. However he also included a line which seemed to contrast with Gregory Campbell's comments earlier this week indicating it could take years for justice to be devolved. Instead Mr Robinson clarified "making the decision to devolve policing and justice functions will not be measured in years; it will be solely measured in whether outstanding issues are resolved and this can only be done in a climate free from threat."
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