Those who practice the art of political opportunism should be exposed. So step forward, Michael McDowell. The PD leader is rapidly becoming one of the arch-opportunists of Irish politics. Last month, he condemned the opposition parties for engaging in 'auction politics' as he embarked upon a multi-billion euro giveaway package to woo the voters. He was at it again last week, with the new Criminal Justice Bill 2007. The bill proposes several major changes to the bail regime, the right to silence and detention periods. "This legislation will make a very significant contribution to the fight against criminal gangs, " the justice minister predicted. The Oireachtas will debate this legislation in a handful of sitting days as the government - after months of relative inactivity - is intent on passing several bills into law before Easter.

McDowell's motivations are questionable. Could the PD leader be using this legislation to enhance his own image as a politician perceived to be tough on crime? Such a conclusion is hard to avoid, especially with the minister's proposal for electronic tagging which is included in his new legislation.

The e-tagging system would apply to individuals charged with serious offences who are granted bail. The system would be run by a private-sector operator. Yet it is only 12 months since McDowell said the UK experience with etagging had led to his own "ebbing enthusiasm" for the system. His remarks were made last summer at a meeting of the Oireachtas Justice Committee. Electronic tagging was introduced in the UK in 1999 where it is most frequently used when prisoners are granted early release. The Oireachtas Committee heard that the British Association of Probation Officers had found that tagging offenders cost twice as much as supervision by a member of the probation service. McDowell conceded the point on cost. "It is not a cost-free measure. A total of �800 [Euro1,200] per month per case [in the UK] means that there is a considerable resource implication. One certainly would not want a district court judge making such orders on a random basis every time the thought occurred to him or her, " he said When Labour's Brendan Howlin asked if e-tagging had worked in the UK, the response he received from the justice minister was bizarre. "I know from listening to BBC Radio 4 that a fair number of crimes were committed by people who were under the supervision of the probation service in the UK, " McDowell stated. Last year, the minister was unsure about the merits of e-tagging. Last week, he promised to pass into law before the Easter recess - and with minimum debate - legislation which allows for e-tagging. This is no way to run a parliament, and it's no way to run a country.

THE posters are up, the candidates are out on the hustings and the promises are coming thick and fast.

At the current pace, however, there will be little new left for the politicians when the election campaign officially begins. Prediction: the campaign will be tedious and the voters will be weary from billioneuro promises that include everything bar free cappuccinos. The 21-day campaign will be presidential - it will be all about Bertie (ABOVE) and Enda. The two men could do worse than tune into a new RT� TV series So You Want to be Taoiseach! Made by Midas Productions, it promises a "step-by-step guide" to reaching the top political job in the land. Ahern may feel he already knows the route to Government Buildings, but the three-part series - fronted by Ardal O'Hanlon - should be guaranteed one viewer in a certain house in Castlebar.

With old friends like these, who needs comedians? SENATOR Brian Hayes threw another 'what if ' into the general election debate with his comments last week about Michael McDowell rejoining Fine Gael. "Brian Hayes today questioned whether or not the T�naiste and PD leader had secretly applied to re-join the Fine Gael party, unknown to individuals in either party, " a media statement from Fine Gael read.

Hayes was intent on having some fun at McDowell's expense, as he claimed the PD leader had stolen most of Fine Gael's proposals on crime. The real fun, however, would really begin if the PDs and Fine Gael end up beside each other on the opposition benches after the forthcoming contest.

"I think it is safe to say that any membership application from Minister McDowell will remain unprocessed for the foreseeable future, " Hayes predicted.

But what if Enda Kenny bombs at the polls, and Fianna F�il forms the next government with either Labour or the Greens?

Then Hayes may well be asked to define "foreseeable future".