To be honest at this stage I don’t care what was discussed at the infamous golf outing at Druids Glen. The Taoiseach’s reputation is already trashed. Information has to be dragged out of him. It is described as a social event, and yet it is said weighty economic matters were covered. His driver was at the dinner, presumably so he could take him home. Isn’t it grand for some. Then we have the nauseating spectacle of Minister Martin Mansergh praising Biffo’s vigorous defence of his position in the Dail on TV3. An image leapt to mind. Remember the photographs of Biffo swigging a bottle of champagne. Think of him bull-like in the Dail. If you drink Red Bull and champagne mixed together it is called a shambles. Says it all. It is over. It is finished. This government is drowning in a perception of gross incompetence and cronyism.

If this wasn’t bad enough the Greens pathetic behaviour makes me want to run to the bathroom. Did John Gormley learn nothing from Michael McDowell’s awful acceptance of Bertie’s explanation of his financial dealings ? Gormless says he is not Sherlock Holmes. In truth he is not even Inspector Clouseau, but at least Clouseau had the virtue of being funny. The hapless and sanctimonious behaviour of the leader of the Greens is simply sick making. They are trying to foist hurried legislation, which is possibly damaging to our national interest, on us during the dying days of this administration. They bleat on about the great duty they have to the nation to see the Finance Bill through the Dail, when people are already suffering the deductions introduced in the budget in their pay packets. Do they take us for fools ?

This is one of the most invidious aspects of the Greens. It is their false sense of moral superiority. They think they know what is best for us. They delude themselves for they ignore the fact that they are propping up the most discredited government in the history of the state. Michael Noonan was asked on the radio this week why Fine Gael didn’t bring a motion of no confidence in the Dail. He calmly explained there was no point, the government have a majority.

However, the end is nigh. The key to the formation of the next government must be to bring together the skills, courage and competence to deal with the economic crisis. They must have the vision to find a way to redefine our relationship with Europe and the zeal to reform our political institutions without adopting a slash and burn policy. A tall order.