Charlie McCreevy's birthdays all came together this week. On Tuesday, he was 48. And yesterday he heard the news of the exceptional buoyancy in the Exchequer figures. He is, of course, trying to play it down, saying that the money is not his and that caution will be needed on Budget day.

In reality, Mr McCreevy and his fellow Ministers must be rubbing their hands. "Christmas is Coming" as one brokers' commentary put it, and Mr McCreevy will not be slow to play Santa Claus on December 3rd.