DESPITE his smart suits and loud ties, Ruairi Quinn is not one for great similes and metaphors when he is talking about the Irish economy and the public finances. Lots of worthy stuff from the Minister but most of it tends to be couched in the language of the markets and the moneymen.

Mr Quinn's counterpart in the Britain, Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke - he of the brown hush puppies, pints of beer and Castella cigars - does however have a somewhat more colourful turn of phrase.

Ken's latest gem was to describe the British economy as having gone through a "Heineken recovery that is reaching the parts that other recoveries don't reach". Not so long ago, Ken, also adopting a food `n' drink theme, said: "The economy is not a Pot Noodle just add hot water and stir."

The Margin waits with interest for what part of the British economy will be compared to a Castella cigar. Going up in smoke?