THE worst excesses of what passes for political activity in this country were evident last Thursday morning in Leinster House. The opposition parties attempted to discuss the shambles of garda speed cameras and inadequate care for the elderly. Ceann comhairle Rory O'Hanlon, however, automatically jumped in to shut down any real discussion. Droning on, as is his wont, O'Hanlon has a series of stock lines . . . "that is not an appropriate matter. . . that matter doesn't rise on the order of business. . . the deputy can't raise that matter".

If you want to know why politics is discredited . . . and the public are uninterested . . . then look no further than the Dail chamber. The status of the Dail has probably never been lower, with increased cabinet power and with social partnership taking important decisionmaking out of the parliamentary domain.

The daily Order of Business allows TDs to ask the government about the progress of planned legislation. The world would want to be falling down outside the gates of Leinster House before the rules for the Order of Business would be relaxed to allow anything of relevance to shake the cobwebs in the Dail chamber. The rigidity of the way business is done means the chamber is increasingly irrelevant to the real world.

The lack of current debate also means the government and individual ministers are hardly held to adequate account in parliament. Along with this lack of relevant debate, the next fortnight will bring the annual ritual of important legislation being rushed through the Dail with minimal debate as the government seeks to get laws passed before the summer recess.

"Parliamentary scrutiny, where are you?" an exasperated Eamon Gilmore said last week. "No wonder the lawyers are making a fortune down at the Four Courts." All the main parties have enjoyed a spell in government over the last 20 years . . . so they all share the blame . . . but maybe it's now time they combined to get their own house in order.

Higgins's health concerns

THE privatisation of the health services continues apace with the Health Service Executive increasingly looking like the policy implementation wing of the Progressive Democrats. Labour's Michael D Higgins last week received some interesting correspondence on the decision to hand over land at 11 public hospitals to groups seeking to build private health facilities.

Expressions of interest are currently being sought by Brendan Drumm's HSE, with shortlisting to take place after the 30 June deadline. Advocates of the new policy argue that by moving private patients into private hospitals, beds and facilities will be freed up in the public system.

"No one states how the successful applicants are to be chosen in any accountable or transparent way, " Higgins said before raising a potential problem with Galway University Hospital. "The land available, originally given to the public hospitals in Galway, had a stipulation that it would be available for public health. This is a raid on public property by private hospitals and individuals, " the Labour TD said with a bout of good oldfashioned ideological consistency.

AND so, farewell to Top of the Pops, although the axing of the longtime chart programme may assist the cause of political reconciliation in the North. On BBC's Let's Talk last week, Jeffrey Donaldson (right)and Martin McGuinness were asked about their memories growing up with the chart show.

It was the Jam for the DUP MP, while his Sinn Fein counterpart opted for the Bee Gees. Now all they have to do is dust down the LPs as the 24 November deadline for forming a government approaches.

The wit of Barry Andrews

THE emergence of Barry Andrews as the leader of a backbench cabal in Fianna Fail throws new light on a recent question-andanswer interview given to Ogra FF's newsletter shortly after his appointment as chairman of the party's youth group.

"Do you think there are too many political dynasties in Fianna Fail?"

Andrews was asked.

As a member of a notable Fianna Fail dynasty, there was some evidence of a sense of humour with the Dun Laoghaire TD replying, "Yes. I wish there was some way to put a stop to that kind of thing".

Given his new role as backbench ringleader, Andrews was obviously also being funny with this response to the question, about some day becoming taoiseach.

"No. I'm quite happy concentrating on my work as a TD and representing my constituents in Dun Laoghaire."