IF you were to listen to John O'Donoghue, you'd think the Green Party was a rabid crowd of tree-hugging, muesli-eating wackos. Mention the Greens and the arts minister loses his normal mild-mannered demeanour.

There's a view in Fianna Fail that the Greens are the weak link in Enda Kenny's alternative coalition, despite the fact that the Greens have actually declined to sign up to the Fine GaelLabour alliance.

But could it be that maybe the Greens are not so stupid after all?

Last week, they lined up with Fine Gael and Labour in attacking the government. But they did so from an independent space which they have carved out for themselves.

They've as much time for the current FF-PD coalition as they have for any FG-led alternative.

Dublin Mid-West TD Paul Gogarty threw verbal brickbats at all sides in the Dail last week. "Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Labour party and the Progressive Democrats all signify the triumph of style over substance, populism over policies, Tweedle Dum or Tweedle Dee. The electorate will be given a choice between an incompetent Fianna FailProgressive Democrats administration and a bland, uninspiring Fine Gael-Labour party clone. They are the Dolly alliance, a chip off the old block and a mirror image of the current government."

This non-aligned position is an interesting strategy.

Smaller parties will struggle for public and media attention especially during an election campaign. This situation is always much worse for a smaller party which agrees to an alliance with a larger party. After a quarter of a century on the go . . . and now with a half dozen TDs . . . the Greens desperately need a spell in government to confirm their relevance and enhance their credibility. Greens have succeeded elsewhere in Europe and they can only hope that their vote is needed in the formation of the next government. The party has not adopted an agreed position on the merits of either an administration led by either Bertie Ahern or Enda Kenny. They are there to be wooed. And they have realistic opportunities of seat gains in Galway West, Carlow-Kilkenny and Wicklow. A couple of extra Green Dail seats and John O'Donoghue won't be the only politician eating muesli for breakfast.

Trouble for Enda Kenny in his Mayo homepatch where Michelle Mulherin, one of his Fine Gael general election running mates, failed to be elected as chair of Ballina Town Council. A local story but embarrassing, nonetheless, because of divisions in Fine Gael. Mulherin lost out to her party colleague, Mark Winters who was backed by Fianna Fail. It seems Fianna Fail didn't want Mulherin to have the local profile which would take from the party's own Ballina candidate, Dara Calleary. "Stabbed in the back" was how one councillor said Mulherin had been treated.

Stand-up comedians in the Dail

ON THE subject of the arts minister, O'Donoghue vies with Joe Higgins and Pat Rabbitte as among the best of the current group of parliamentary speakers. The Kerry North TD is always good for a one-liner as last week's contribution indicated. "Two years ago, the Mullingar man of Irish politics, Deputy Enda Kenny, promised the people a comprehensive policy strategy within 18 months. He has been ably assisted by the microphone man of Irish politics . . . the man with an opinion on everything and a policy on nothing . . .

Deputy Rabbitte, or to give him his correct title, Pat the talker; the man who brings us today's talk today."

Not that Michael McDowell was going to be outdone in the namecalling stakes.

The justice minister showed that he's lost none of the skills developed in his UCD debating days.

Tom Hayes from Fine Gael asked McDowell, "What has the minister been doing for the past three years?"

McDowell spat out his response. "A hell of a lot more than you will ever do in your lifetime, buddy."

FF rapprochement with Blaney clan

THEY may be lighting the bonfires in Milford in Co Donegal shortly for one hell of a homecoming. There were no dissenting voices when Bertie Ahern sought permission last week from his parliamentary party to open discussions with Donegal North East TD Niall Blaney with a view to ending a 35-year schism.

"I didn't leave Fianna Fail. Fianna Fail left me, " was how the late Neil Blaney described the split which developed in the aftermath of the 1970 Arms Trial. The Blaney dynasty was born in Donegal in the 1920s and Neil Blaney, who took the seat held by his father, more than successfully maintained his Independent Fianna Fail group after the split.

There was talk of a rapprochement in the early 1980s but the big beasts . . . Blaney and his former ministerial colleague, Charlie Haughey . . . never did the deal.

Now Niall Blaney . . . a nephew of Neil . . . and Bertie . . . the political son of Charlie . . . seem set to end the rift.