AFTER over two weeks of continuous political crisis, one fact remains: Bertie Ahern personally profited in financial terms from his attendance at a function in Manchester in late 1994 when he was Minister for Finance. Any talk about ethical guidelines or tax obligations is secondary. By taking the money, Ahern did wrong. While none of his Fianna Fail colleagues have been willing to admit as much, privately few believe Ahern's version of events. But these politicians, apparently like many members of the public, are willing to give Ahern the benefit of the doubt.

Such an outcome says a great deal about the height of the cynicism threshold that currently exists. It seems that the public now expect so little from their elected representatives that they are prepared to accept much that is simply wrong.

So despite all that has emerged, there is still a good chance that Ahern will be Taoiseach after the next general election.

That is a thought to focus the thinking of Tanaiste Michael McDowell as he contemplates things during the next eight months.

If Enda Kenny is not the next Taoiseach, his failure may well be traced back to his Dail performances on 3-5 October 2006. Last week, as Ahern fumbled with the truth and the PDs wrestled with their morals, there was a moment when the Taoiseach and his government were vulnerable. But Kenny failed to set the tone for the debate, both in the Dail and in the wider community. The Fine Gael leader made no memorable contribution that got people talking. He simply did not connect. It was a missed opportunity. By way of comparison, as scandals circled Charles Haughey in his final couple of years in power, Dick Spring emerged as a formidable parliamentary presence. Spring displayed killer instinct, a trait not evident in any member of the opposition last week. They well may rue the day.

The barbs are sharp, the wits less so

DICK Roche assumed a new status last week. "The Minister, Deputy Roche, will get his comeuppance one of these days, " Enda Kenny predicted in Tuesday's Dail debate before adding: "Roche is probably the nastiest bit of goods of them all". It's not clear what the Environment minister did to deserve such criticism.

During the same debate, junior minister Conor Lenihan persisted with his annoying habit of passing remarks about the opposition. Most of the time, Lenihan's interjections are not funny. Indeed, frequently he's told to quieten down by his own colleagues. But Lenihan played a blinder last Tuesday as Caoimhghlin O Caolain wandered into talking about the Rossport Five during his speech criticising the Taoiseach over the Manchester money.

When the Sinn Fein TD mentioned 'Shell Oil', an enthusiastic Lehihan shouted, "What about Slab Oil?" The reference to Thomas 'Slab' Murphy brought laughter from all sides in the House.

Not that Lenihan was alone in taking a pop at O Caolain. "The deputy's election was bankrolled, " Noel Dempsey sneered.

"Bank robbers, " Jim Glennon shouted on more than one occasion. It's a sign of what Sinn Fein can expect as the general election approaches.

LABOUR Senator Joanna Tuffy (left) received all-party support last week for her proposal to allow the public petition the Seanad on matters of public interest. The idea is a simple one and is similar to systems which operate in Germany and in Scotland. "Under this process, members of the public could have a major influence on legislation and on their legislators, " Tuffy predicted.

Fianna Fail's Mary O'Rourke was supportive. She was also willing to speculate that both Tuffy . . . a candidate in Dublin Mid-West . . . and herself in Longford-Westmeath would be viewing the petition system at work from the environs of Dail Eireann after the general election.

Bertie's boys do it on their own time SOwhat will Bertie Ahern's political advisors do when the general election is called? The contracts of the six political advisors employed by the Taoiseach expire on midnight before the next government is approved by the Dail. But for the duration of the election campaign itself, these individuals will have to take annual leave if they want to be involved in the campaign to get Fianna Fail re-elected.

But according to Ahern, his advisors might have other plans for the election. "If somebody takes their annual leave, what they do during that time is not a matter for any of us. They could be down saving the hay or canvassing. That is not a matter for us, " Ahern said.