Lenten Taoiseach flashes the ash in sombre House

Dáil Sketch: It was a morning for sombre reflection in the Dáil. Not only was it Ash Wednesday, but the House was also observing "Work-Life Balance Day".

Unfortunately, as deputies were aware, a newly-published report had found such imbalance in the lives of Irish managers - especially in knowledge-based industries - that some were judged to have lower life quality than the seriously ill.

As usual, the Taoiseach's forehead reminded us it was the beginning of Lent. A smudge of ash hovered like a cloud over his normally sunny features, threatening rain. We are all mortal, the smudge said. But as the manager of Ireland Inc and a central figure in the knowledge economy (he has to face Leaders Questions twice a week) Bertie Ahern seemed more at risk than most.

Pat Rabbitte acknowledged the Taoiseach's workload during exchanges on the Lourdes hospital inquiry.

Dissatisfied with "a muddled reply, that was all over the place" on whether the Government intended to implement the recommendations, the Labour leader guessed Bertie had not read the report. Perhaps he would do so "when the pressures of the job allow", suggested Pat.

As usual, the Taoiseach was one of a tiny minority marking the day.

When the family of the late Fine Gael TD Larry McMahon arrived to hear formal tributes, the ash wearers among them easily outnumbered deputies with smudged brows.

As the tributes noted, Larry was a devout Christian, and his family had clearly inherited the faith.

But while he might have despaired at the lack of ashes among his former colleagues, he would have been pleased - as Enda Kenny said - that his passing was being marked on this of all days.

In what has become a Lenten tradition, Joe Higgins also found aptness in the "sign of humility and penance" on the Taoiseach's forehead.

He suggested that thanks to nine years of this Government, it was not only senior managers who had low life quality.

Perhaps the Taoiseach would also repent of his sins against the countless thousands "forced to work inordinate hours to make up the cost of the inordinate mortgages foisted upon them by the limitless greed of land speculators", he prompted.

Mr Ahern admitted he hadn't had a chance to read the report on the stressed managers.

But even in the midst of his own time poverty, it was Joe's quality of life he worried about.

He cautioned the Socialist Party man against worrying about pressure, "because if you do, you'll be pressurised".

He also advised him to acquire the habit of considering the glass "half-full".

Otherwise, he warned, "you get cranky, you can't think of anything positive, and you die prematurely".

Quickly abandoning hope of the Taoiseach's salvation - another Lenten tradition - Joe wondered if Bertie had swallowed some of his ashes by mistake, "because you're delirious now".

But the Taoiseach persisted with the homily, advising Joe to "think of all the positive things that happen".