Dail Sketch/Michael O'Regan:A hungry Opposition drew blood in the Dáil yesterday thanks to a Government own goal in having a majority of just one in a series of votes.
The Opposition could not hide its glee and Fine Gael's Phil Hogan wore a smile as broad as his Carlow/Kilkenny constituency. Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt was ashen-faced, while Tánaiste Brian Cowen looked annoyed and bewildered.
The three divisions were on a long-winded Government motion expressing disappointment with Aer Lingus's decision to end the Shannon-Heathrow service but stopping short of meeting the Opposition demand that it use its shareholding to have the decision reversed.
Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen spoke of a black day for the midwest and west. "On August 7th last, the skies fell on Shannon," he declared. "The west of Ireland's bridge to the world was taken away in a callous fashion."
As the heated debate progressed the Opposition's chief target was Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea, from Limerick, who had evoked Oliver Cromwell's legacy as the Shannon row raged in August. Mr O'Dea was nowhere to be seen and Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey was unable to say whether he had fled to hell or to Connacht. However, Mr O'Dea turned up for the votes.
"Give Willie a ring," advised an Opposition deputy. Enda Kenny asked, with mock concern: "Where is Minister O'Dea?" When Mr O'Dea took his seat for the first electronic vote, the Opposition taunts continued. The Minister smiled and ostentatiously pressed the button to support the Government.
Earlier, Mr O'Dea had sat next to Mr Cowen, who took the Order of Business in the Taoiseach's absence. The Tánaiste's political bruiser persona, which re-emerged in Wednesday's confidence debate, had been replaced by a world-weary gravitas. It was a low-key prelude to the noisy Shannon debate and the Government's narrow escape from an embarrassing defeat.
Labour's Joan Burton asked Mr Cowen to provide government time to debate the "enormous changes and turmoil in the economy here and on a worldwide basis".
As Mr Cowen launched into a financial discourse Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue became concerned that the standing orders governing the Order of Business, allowing only for questions on promised legislation, were being discarded. "I am glad to say that the financial institutions in Ireland . . . are in good shape and have a strong liquid position," said Mr Cowen.
The Ceann Comhairle's unease grew. "While what the Tánaiste is saying is very interesting, we cannot have a debate on the matter now," he declared. Mr Cowen seemed happy to sit down.