But the farmers say the birds of prey like to feast on lambs and they are concerned that saving the eagle might wipe out their flocks.

But predatory animals are causing concern for people in other parts of the country this weekend, too. In Mayo, Beverley Flynn's potential return to the Fianna Fail fold has ruffled a few feathers.

Here is a woman who has been elected to the Dail and who might just become a junior minister in the lifetime of this government. But let's not forget that she is also someone whom the High Court decided had helped and encouraged her clients at National Irish Bank to evade tax. She has cost the state broadcaster 2.84m in legal fees but hasn't paid them "a red cent", according to RTE's lawyers.

But it seems the Taoiseach is ready to have Bev back, much to the consternation of her constituency colleagues, who must surely feel as much under siege as the poor Kerry lambs with the eagles casting a long, menacing shadow overhead.

Still, they are not the only ones looking over their shoulders.

What about those of you who voted for the Greens?

Are you getting worried yet?

Firstly, the party of unfailing ethics have not opened their mouths about the Flynn issue. They are perfectly happy, it seems, that a woman who advised investors on how to best evade tax and who now owes nearly 3m in legal fees which she can't or won't pay, joins them on the government benches.

The cause for concern doesn't end or even begin there. As the dust settles on the resignation as party leader by Trevor Sargent, whose hearty 'Stand by Your Principles' refrain was music to the ears of many who have been waiting for a man of his word to stand up and be counted, the logic for his decision is melting away. He won't be the boss of a Green Party in coalition with Fianna Fail, but yet he will be a junior minister in a Fianna Fail-led coalition. The experienced buckos in Leinster House must have had a right laugh at the man who doesn't know that it's the politician's prerogative to change his mind.

Last week saw Bertie wheeling and dealing and taking on an extra junior minister here, there and everywhere in order to keep everyone happy. As this was going on, a banana skin was duly left in place for the newly appointed Green minister for the environment John Gormley to unceremoniously skid on. Minister Gormley agreed with a suggestion that we hand out penalty points to litter bugs. The penalty points system is there to make the roads safer. Surely it's just a little over the top for the gardai to start doling out penalty points for dumping rubbish from your car window?

The 15 white-tailed sea eagles will spend the next five weeks housed in Killarney National Park before they are released and are forced to make their own way in the world. Sheep farmers in Kerry will no doubt spend that time worrying that their innocent lambs will eventually be gobbled up by the quicker, sneakier and more vicious species.

Bertie Ahern is also bedding down into his new habitat . . . that of a third term of office. His period of adjustment has been characterised by postelection basking in his success as he luxuriates in picking his cabinet and soft-soaping those who will support him as taoiseach. Only time will tell if the Greens mutate from being sitting ducks and get wise to the trickery of the politically adept Fianna Fail. After all, it didn't take long for the party to steal the clothes of the Progressive Democrats and hang them out to dry with no reason left for the electorate to vote for them.

But it is early days and once the 30th Dail gets underway proper, it is only then that we will see whether the mighty eagles will live up to their reputation and soar to uncharted heights, all the time watching and waiting to prey on the weaker of the species below.

Claire Byrne presents 'The Breakfast Show' with Ger Gilroy on Newstalk 106-108