Michael McDowell (remember him?) did it. The Big Intelligent Man from Offaly may – or may not – do it. Currently, it looks like he is sitting on the same fence, grandly called procrastination – a long title for a long time of apparent indecision to kick-start the construction industry.

McDowell’s faux pas, which will follow him in all political biographies, was to suggest the government did “not need €3bn in stamp duties”. Uttered off the cuff at a time of rising property prices, it was interpreted as a signal that hefty cuts in stamp duty were imminent. As a result, day-to-day trading in residential properties slowed, then stopped.

Now Brian Cowen seems stricken by the Curse of McDowell. Encouraged since May to bring in measures which would give some kind of tax-breaks to house-purchasers, Cowen’s lack of action has spawned as many rumours as headlines – that something is stirring in the tax undergrowth which will benefit the industry.

Among the many urging him to so act has been Tom Parlon, boss of CIF and one-time leading light of the PDs, partners in government to FF. As was widely believed, Cowen was neither a personal fan of McDowell or an enthusiast for Parlon/PDs in government. So eating humble pie throughout the summer may account for inaction, which patently is not helping the business.