Dáil Sketch/Michael O'Regan: By 10.32am yesterday, Ivor Callely had run out of road.
The end of his junior ministerial career took a matter of seconds as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who had spoken to him earlier, told the House: "I wish to announce for the information of the Dáil that I have accepted the resignation of Deputy Ivor Callely, Minister of State at the Department of Transport."
This was followed by a lengthy and heated row, as the Opposition scented blood and demanded a debate, or a personal statement from Mr Callely. The former junior minister had earlier given his version of events to Pat Kenny on RTÉ radio.
His silence in the House irritated the Opposition, with Fine Gael's Denis Naughten remarking: "The Pat Kenny show is the new Dáil."
The Taoiseach gave a blunt "no" to demands for a debate in Government time, while Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon ruled one out under standing orders.
Usually a man of caution and restraint, Dr O'Hanlon, addressing the Fine Gael leader, remarked amid the heated exchanges: "For frig's sake, Enda. . ." Meanwhile, the Taoiseach, clutching his Budget speech like an excited schoolboy with impressive examination results to flaunt, was clearly very annoyed that he could not return to Wednesday's financial package, which was designed to rescue the Government's fortunes.
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent, joining in the demand for a debate, wanted a reassurance that no construction company offered to do work on the Taoiseach's constituency office, St Luke's in Drumcondra.
This provoked an audible gasp of annoyance from the Government benches, with Cork FF deputy Noel O'Flynn remarking: "That is dirty."
A furious Mr Ahern rounded on Mr Sargent, reminding him they were there to debate the Budget.
Mr Callely entered the chamber at 10.53am to take his place for a vote, sitting next to the Taoiseach's brother, one-time junior ministerial colleague Noel Ahern. He looked gaunt and drawn.
He appeared to be examining text messages on his mobile phone, then he rapidly looked up as Labour leader Pat Rabbitte attempted to light a fuse under the ministerial career of Micheál Martin, who had served with Mr Callely in the Department of Health before the Cabinet reshuffle.
"The then minister of state at the Department of Health, Deputy Callely, took the rap for the former minister for health, Deputy Martin, on the nursing home charges," said Mr Rabbitte. He added that the implications for Mr Martin were clear.
The row intensified, with Labour's Seán Ryan ordered from the chamber.
Later, Mr Callely left.
At 12.16 the exasperated Taoiseach finally got his chance to deliver his Budget speech.
By now, Minister for Finance Brian Cowen had returned from his phone-in on the Pat Kenny programme, having been upstaged by Mr Callely.
He sat with fellow Ministers John O'Donoghue and Dermot Ahern as the Taoiseach spoke, dutifully following every word of Mr Ahern's praise for the Budget. But nobody on the Government benches looked happy.