Radio: Enter Michael 'Media' McDowell

How many interviews can you fit into your first week as party leader? How many different headlines can you make? As many as possible, if you are Michael McDowell, who is using the same 'climbing up a pole' strategy that he did in the run up to the last election – ie to get as much media coverage as possible, about anything.

Since taking up party leadership on 11 September, he has talked to, among others, Gavin Jennings (News at One, RTÉ Radio 1, 1pm weekdays), Ger Gilroy (The Breakfast Show on NewsTalk 106, 7-9am weekdays), Matt Cooper (The Last Word on Today FM, 4.30-7pm weeekdays), and given his first "exclusive" print interview to his friend and confidant Sam Smyth in the Irish Independent. On Monday 18 September, Cathal MacCoille (Morning Ireland, RTÉ Radio 1, 7-9am weekdays) interviewed him live from a special party meeting in Malahide about crime detection rates, the government's failed track record and his "new vision" for Ireland on infrastructure, energy and tax-cutting.

PD deputy leader Liz O'Donnell, on This Week (RTÉ Radio 1, Sunday, 1-2pm) the day before, spoke of her support for McDowell and said that the party was not "not ruling anyone out [of coalition] but Sinn Féin". In other words, she did not rule out coalition with Labour.

However, less than 24 hours later, McDowell said that O'Donnell had been misinterpreted and that coalition with Labour was not an option for the PDs, resorting to rhetoric on "slump coalition" not being an option for Ireland. There has not been an interview with McDowell since he became the leader when he has not rolled out the "slump coalition" mantra.

That same day, there was widespread coverage of the shooting in Moyross, Limerick, with local councillor John Gilligan calling for two squad cars on duty in the area 24 hours a day. Yet despite the Limerick gang feud killings in the last year and the horrific fire-bombing of two children, Michael McDowell does not think the Limerick situation is out of control. He visited Moyross last year and is aware of the level of community activity in the area. But if he was aware of the real problems in neighbourhoods such as Moyross, surely he would acknowledge the persistent State neglect over recent decades (including the last 10 years while the PDs have been in power) that has significantly contributed to the deprivation that drives the drugs wars and gangland feuds.

Richard Bruton was also on Morning Ireland, claiming that more people are getting away with crimes in 2005 than in 2000 and that the government has failed to make people feel safer in their homes. According to McDowell, Ireland's crime detection rates compare well to international figures.

Cathal MacCoille took McDowell on, but perhaps there should be a ban on airspace for him until he can answer questions on the unmet promises from the last election, rather than coming up with new promises on stamp duty and new roads for the next one.p