EOGHAN HARRIS's appointment to the Seanad last week was a good decision by Bertie Ahern. I know many in my party will feel uncomfortable with me saying that. His unfailing loyalty to the Taoiseach in recent years has often been difficult to take or understand. In writing so strongly for Ahern, he played his part in helping to re-elect Fianna Fail, something the majority of Irish people didn't want or vote for in the recent general election.

So given the fact he is one of them now, and by extension against us, why do I welcome his appointment to the Seanad? I do so because Eoghan Harris is one of the bravest citizens we have in his relentless opposition to the campaign waged by the IRA; the state, through whatever means, should recognise that contribution and cherish it. It is a good thing that people like Harris, who have helped defeat the IRA, should be rewarded with a high honour, such as an appointment to the Seanad.

Eoghan Harris has over many years questioned the smugness of Irish nationalism, indeed any nationalism you care to think of. His role has been similar, although he wouldn't thank me for saying it, to that played by Tony Benn in Britain. Benn has always questioned the superiority that underlies much of British nationalism.

Similarly, Harris provokes us to justify our attitudes towards things that make us feel uncomfortable . . . such as our attitude to the Unionist community or the ambivalence of some to the Provos. He has also been central in defending tough stances the Irish state had to take at various times, such as Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act.

This new 30th Dail is the first Dail since the foundation of the state where the threat posed by the IRA to Irish parliamentary democracy is no more. It is right that parliamentary Ireland would recognise the ultimate victory over paramilitary Ireland by the appointment of a citizen who made a real difference in standing up for Irish democracy.

And when I see Eoghan Harris around Leinster House, I will give him two small bits of advice. Firstly, keep an eye out for the people John Kelly famously described as the "sneaking regarders", who still hang out in Fianna Fail; some may even be sitting close to him in the Upper House.

When he has figured out who they are, and it won't be difficult, he should go after them as only he can. And secondly, always be wary of politicians who need a picture of Padraig Pearse looking over their shoulder as they work!

ON ANY objective basis, Gordon Brown has made a good start in taking over from Tony Blair. A fresh cabinet with lots of new faces, allied with a clear intent to change the way cabinet decisions are made in Britain, has helped change the fortunes of his party, at least in the short term.

What Brown has had to say about parliamentary accountability is very interesting. He has instructed ministers not to bypass parliament and to involve themselves in proper parliamentary consultation on all major issues. Statements on government policy are to be made in parliament, where they can be scrutinised and questioned.

Parliament itself is to be given new powers, effectively keeping a check on the power of the executive.

All of this is in marked contrast to what goes on in the Dail. Under recent governments the Dail has become a rubber stamp. Major public policy positions are now announced at a press conference, with ministers issuing great tablets of wisdom. The Dail is bypassed and ignored. When a member of the Dail, either opposition or government deputy, attempts to raise the latest announcement, they are told that they are out of order.

I have noticed in recent years that the more controversial announcements are normally left for when the Dail is in recess.

Unfortunately, decision-making in our state is now the sole preserve of the executive.

Maybe Gordon Brown's reforms might catch on this side of the Irish sea. I wouldn't hold my breath under the current regime.

Quit your MRBI bellyaching

FF change in party and candidate support takes place throughout a campaign.

So who got the 2007 election right from the national perspective?

In fairness to TNS/MRBI in the Irish Times, their final poll on the Sunday before voting was very accurate. It correctly picked up the Fianna Fail recovery in the last week of the campaign.

But also their method of distributing the 'don't knows' in establishing the true extent of the Fine Gael vote also proved accurate.

So please, no more bellyaching from FF about MRBI and their methodology. More than any other polling company, they have got it right on virtually every election campaign.