FIANNA Fail and the Progressive Democrats got a small look into their respective futures as the statutory rape controversy unfolded. The two main figures batting for the government, Brian Cowen and Michael McDowell, hope to one day have the tag 'party leader' attached to their names. As was witnessed when the pressure mounted on the government, both McDowell and Cowen have a different approach to politics than what we're used to from Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney.

Cowen was combatative, argumentative and, as always, highly political. And he continued that trend in the Dail last week in his dismissive attitute to the opposition. "Perhaps Deputy Durkan should concentrate on trying to deliver better opposition so that he might have some prospects in government, " was just one jibe from the finance minister before he apologised to Bernard Durkan "for snarling at him". McDowell was also combatative, argumentative and, as always, highly political. And he too continued that trend in the Dail last week when accusing Fine Gael's Jim O'Keeffe of engaging in "xenophobic nonsense".

Even if they win the next election, Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney are likely to stand down by the mid-term point of the next Dail. In effect, at most it will be three years until Cowen and McDowell get near the top jobs. Of course, two ladies may have something to say about who ultimately fills those vacancies. Step forward, Mary Hanafin and Liz O'Donnell.

A nice little earner

THE Taoiseach earns 255,730. The Tanaiste gets 222,256. The justice minister and the attorney general each pick up 204,845. The top official at the Department of Justice is paid 218,845. It's a lot of money to which another 0.7m can be added in salaries for the senior civil servants in the AG's office and the justice department.

These individuals have all benefited handsomely from the public-sector benchmarking pay awards.

But, while securing what they claim are equivalent payments with comparable private-sector jobs, they have taken on none of the unsavoury elements of private-sector employment. None of these individuals will be shown the door over the statutory rape crisis. Neither are any senior officials likely to be asked to hand back the annual bonuses they have received since late 2002 over the "communications error" in the AG's office.

All top senior civil servants can qualify for bonus payments of up to 20% of their pay. It's a nice little earner. The first bonuses were paid in early 2003. The scheme is overseen by the Committee for Performance Awards.

Ironically, the chairman of the committee is one Eddie O'Sullivan, the man asked to inquire into the latest shambles created by failures in the AG's offfice.

The least that can be expected is that there will be no bonuses in certain departments for 2006.

Over to you, Mr O'Sullivan.

VINCENT Browne had a big scoop in Villagemagazine last week, with Charlie Haughey's longtime assistant Catherine Butler telling her story of working for the former Fianna Fail leader.

"Charles Haughey was no crook.

He never used public office for his personal gain, " Butler told Browne. Interestingly, Butler recalls accompanying Haughey on a trip to Paris in 1990. "He was going for a fitting at the Chavez store and he asked me to go with him and he bought me a beautiful Chavez scarf, which I still have." The more curious among us wonder does anybody still have the receipt?

Not a holiday banker IT WAS a victory of 30 to seven for the opposition last Wednesday afternoon when the Taoiseach took questions in the Dail. The handful of government deputies in the chamber could either have been an indication of their confidence that the crisis over the statutory rape court decision was over, or that they did not want to listen to the opposition heckling as Ahern sought to repair some of the damage done to the government's reputation.

The early return of TDs and senators from bankholiday breaks had several knock-on consequences during the week.

On Wednesday there wasn't a single parliamentary question asked of defence minister Willie O'Dea while Enda Kenny was forced to cut short a planned trip to New York. The Fine Gael leader had a series of speaking engagements pushed into a single day visit stateside on Thursday. With schedules like that, is it any wonder some TDs would be tempted to nod off in the Dail chamber?

Mater of life and death

FOR three years and two weeks, Joe Costello has been arriving at the front entrance to the Mater Hospital in Dublin on Saturday lunchtimes. Along with some supporters, the Labour TD spends one hour protesting at the inadequate A&E facilities at the Mater. "We are determined to continue to press this government until they deliver on their promises and ensure that all those who need treatment get it promptly without having to suffer the indignity of prolonged period on a trolley, " Costello says. If you're passing, beep your horn.