EU PRESIDENCY: Brian Cowen was at his perkiest yesterday afternoon as he outlined Ireland's plans for the EU presidency in Brussels.
Dispensing with a prepared script, the Minister for Foreign Affairs rattled through a formidable list of ambitions.
They ranged from the introduction of a health card for EU citizens to tackling the problems of sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr Cowen was asked what particular spirit Ireland would bring to managing EU business.
He replied: "We'll do it with a smile."
The European journalists were gathered in the Justus Lipsius Building to hear Mr Cowen.
They will discover during the next six months that smiling is not the only expression in the Minister's repertoire.
Mr Cowen was joined on the harp-spangled platform by his press counsellor, Dermot Brangan; Ireland's EU Ambassador, Anne Anderson (a welcome flash of colour in a sea of suits); and her dapper spokesman, James McIntyre.
Mr McIntyre managed to direct questions from the floor with the precise hand signals of an elegant traffic policeman.
Whatever about its own priorities, the Irish presidency displayed a firm grasp of journalists' priorities.
Lavish helpings of smoked salmon, Irish cheese, Guinness stout and Gaelic coffee were provided.
The hospitality shown by the Irish organisers of the briefing was so generous that trays of drinks were carried by the gathered media representatives without being grabbed at.
By the end of the afternoon, everyone was filled with a warm glow about the Irish presidency - everyone, that is, except Valery Giscard d'Estaing.
Mr Giscard, who chaired the convention that drafted the EU's constitutional treaty, wanted to share his thoughts on the collapse of last weekend's summit and suggested holding a press conference just before the Minister.
This would have left no time to erect the handsome, St Patrick's blue drapes with gold harps and Christmas card stars that formed the Irish presidency backdrop so Mr Giscard was postponed to 5.30, by which time many journalists had gone home tired but happy.
If Mr Cowen was aware of the timetabling troubles, they did nothing to diminish his good spirits during his presentation.
The only one moment his more brooding side appeared in danger of emerging was when someone asked if his experience in the Northern Irish peace process talks would help him to find an agreement on the constitutional treaty.
"To compare conflict resolution in Northern Ireland with finding agreement at the European Council is superfluous to say the least," Mr Cowen snorted.
He added: "Finding agreement at the European Council is much more difficult."