You've got to hand it to the team at Today with Sean O’Rourke, they really know how to pick panellists with an ear for the great political soundbite. That particular headline gem came from journalist, Alison O’Connor, who joined fellow politicos Niamh Lyons and Fionnan Sheahan, along with DCU's Professor Gary Murphy, to take a look at what’s in store for the political landscape in the coming year, 2017.

“Mystic Meg has as much chance as my fellow panellists of predicting the next 12 months.”

That’s another one from Alison, broadcaster and commentator with the Irish Examiner, and given the truly bizarre nature of the last 12 months, who can argue with that assessment?

If you’re on the bus, doing the housework, or just relaxing over a cup of tea, you could do worse than listen back to the full 25 minutes of this highly entertaining, regularly caustic and extremely well-observed preview of the year ahead, from four of the absolute best.

Here’s how Irish Independent editor, Fionnan Sheahan, opened proceedings.

“Twas the night before Christmas and all through Leinster house not a creature was stirring, except for Shane Ross and his photocopier.”

This was in relation to the Transport Minister's “Statement of Strategy 2016-2019”, published on December 23rd, which Fionnan printed in full, and of which he observed, “the appendices are longer than the document itself”. He went on, “it basically goes through a load of stuff the Department of Transport does. It doesn’t give you any indication whatsoever about what the Department is actually going to do.”

But in relation to political predictions for the new year, one of the key developments may well surround the position of Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and how long he will stay as leader of both the country and his own party.

And if he does retain the leadership position, what does 2017 have in store? Gary Murphy, Head of the School of politics in Dublin City University, was pretty unequivocal.

“If there is to be an election in the next 12-18 months, Fine Gael cannot, and they know it, cannot go to the country with Enda as leader. It just will not wash.”

What’s in his favour, according to Alison O’Connor is the volatility of international politics, where simple continuity and stability is desperately longed for. But one of his biggest challenges will be his trip to the White House in March, with the “bowl of Shamrock”.

“I personally would rather eat the bowl of Shamrock than hand it to President Trump.”

I’m guessing Alison O’Connor might be off President Trump’s Christmas card list for 2017. Then again, that’s a long and illustrious list, and I’m sure she’d be happy enough in the company of those that populate it.

And despite Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s previous utterances about Donald Trump, he will play the diplomatic role in the interests of the nation and the many thousands of Irish citizens living and working in the United States.

But back to his leadership, and the stability of the government, largely dependent on the arrangement with Fianna Fail. Here is how Niamh Lyons, political editor of the Times Ireland Edition, took on the dilemma facing Fianna Fail: bring down the government prematurely, with Mr Kenny still in situ, and face possible wrath of the electorate for doing so. Or allow government to function for some time to come, thereby allowing for a possible transition of power to another, more charismatic leader.

“Do Fianna Fail really want to go into the next election with a bullet-proof Fine Gael leader, who can debate well?”

It’s a tough one. And it’s a subject that’s going to be revisited regularly throughout the coming year.

In the meantime, this panel discussion is well worth revisiting and playing back in full, and you can do so by clicking here.

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