The ghost of Christmas past made an appearance at the NTMA Christmas party last week.

Nearing the end of his own annus horribilis Charlie Haughey was in fine form intermingling with the assembled great and good and conversing easily with his successor, Albert Reynolds, and Finance Minister, Charlie McCreevy.

Indeed, Christmas goodwill was in the air all round as what appeared to be the entire Department of Finance descended on the bash in Dublin Castle. Could this mean that there's now a truce between Merrion Street and Aunty Mae?