DAIL SKETCH/Michael O'Regan: There will be no by-election in Dublin Central. The Taoiseach is staying in domestic politics. And that's official.
Mr Ahern was asked yesterday if he was interested in a full-time job in Europe as President of the EU Commission. He was emphatic that he is not. Ambitious backbenchers, awaiting his promised post-election reshuffle, listened carefully.
It all began when the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, said he would let the Taoiseach in on a secret, "not that I have too many of them". The matter had been discussed, he said, at the meeting of the European People's Party prime ministers, but the Taoiseach's name had not been mentioned.
"Given impending battles in the House, will the Taoiseach confirm that he will remain among us and is not interested in the position? Some elements of the media are referring to President Ahern of the Commission." Mr Ahern replied that he was getting so much support from the European People's Party that he thought Mr Kenny was his lobbyist.
"After the EPP meeting, Mr Jean Claude Juncker publicly supported me, and I thought Deputy Kenny was his seconder." Mr Kenny observed: "The Taoiseach would have many supporters on his own side of the House." Well, perhaps after the reshuffle.
"For many reasons, political but mainly personal, Europe is not the place for me, whatever else I do," said Mr Ahern.
"I have admiration for Europe and I like to work there, but I have no wish to be there all the time."
The Green Party leader, Trevor Sargent, noted: "We are in Europe." Mr Ahern replied: "The deputy knows what I mean."
Mr Sargent, dreaming of a Rainbow with the green hue, asked: "Given that the Taoiseach said he would remain here to pester us for a long time, does that mean he is looking forward to being an enthusiastic leader of the opposition in his new role?" Mr Ahern wondered what ministry Mr Sargent would be allocated. Mr Ahern answered several other questions, briefed the House on the Judge Brian Curtin affair, and took questions on the Order of Business from the latest recruit on the Independent benches, Beverley Flynn.
In the corridor, it was noted that Mr Ahern had been endorsed for the Commission job by the the Times of London, an organ which once famously denounced Daniel O'Connell.
That other prominent south Kerry politician, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue, was denounced in the chamber by Labour's Tommy Broughan for giving most of the sporting grants to his constituency. Unlike the Liberator's strong response to the Times, Mr O'Donoghue was pleased he was denounced for such local largesse in the run-up to the elections.