ARAS an Uachtarain never looked better as it waited for the Taoiseach to arrive and ask the President to dissolve the Dail for almost certainly her last time. Flowers were in bloom in the formal garden, fountains glistened in the sunshine and the light, as always, shone in the window.
It may have been a little too welcoming. Some 55 members of the American Women's Club of Dublin were on a tour of the building, although they did not meet Mrs Robinson. They stood around afterwards, taking photos of each other in front of the entrance and chatting in the warm sunshine, their cars lined up on the forecourt.
By noon, the time the Taoiseach was due to arrive, the garda on duty was getting nervous. "Ladies please. We need the space for cars, please. We're expecting a VIP."
Another garda, a member of the President's protection team, was more firm. "You have to move, ladies. There's a gate there and one there," she said, pointing at the two avenues. Reluctantly, they got into their cars and drove off.
Seconds later an Army officer said: "He's on his way in," and photographers, journalists and presidential aides rushed into the drawingroom to be in place for the formalities.
At 12.08 p.m. the President, dressed in a yellow suit, and Mr Bruton, in a grey one, came in from her office. They sat down side by side and signed the proclamation.
It said, in Irish and English: "Pursuant to an advice tendered to me by the Taoiseach under Section 2 of Article 13 of the Constitution, I, Mary Robinson, President of Ireland, hereby dissolve Fail Eireann on 15th day of May, 1997, and summon and call together Fail Eireann (the members whereof shall have been elected at the forthcoming General Election) to meet in the city of Dublin on the 26th day of June, 1997, at the hour of three o'clock p.m. for the despatch of such business as shall be submitted to it."
They stood up, Mr Bruton smiled, and they left the room together for tea and a private chat. The whole ceremony took just over a minute.
Ten minutes later he left, the President shook his hand at the top of the steps, and he headed for his State car, saying only to the assembled journalists: "Thank you all very much."
If he is not reelected Taoiseach, he will not meet the President in such circumstances again.