Dáil Sketch: For one fleeting moment yesterday it seemed as if Mary Harney might have reshuffled herself out of the Department of Health, to be replaced by predecessor Micheál Martinm, writes Michael O'Regan.
Labour's Tommy Broughan demanded to know about the number of GP-only cards and medical cards in the Louth constituency of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern. Mr Ahern was sitting next to Minister for Finance Brian Cowen who was taking the Order of Business.
Despite being ruled out of order by Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon, Mr Broughan kept going. "Do we have a Minister for Health to answer in this House, or do I constantly need to contact the HSE about policy matters?" he asked.
"Yes, we have one," replied Mr Cowen dryly.
"She hasn't gone away, you know," remarked Independent Finian McGrath.
Indeed, she has not. Ms Harney spent much of Wednesday in the Dáil dealing with health matters, but this was not enough to assure Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin yesterday when debate began on the Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006. It paves the way for the repayment of illegal nursing home charges.
By then Mr Martin had taken the ministerial seat, prompting Mr Ó Caoláin to remark that he did not know if he welcomed Mr Martin "back into the hot seat" for a health-related Bill.
Mr Martin, who had done no more than sit next to Minister of State for Health Sean Power for a quick chat, looked horrified and made a rapid exit, leaving matters to the Junior Minister.
"He is leaving again," observed Mr Ó Caoláin. "Good, at least that is a promise kept, not like the one on the Monaghan hospital on the last day before he left office."
Earlier, the Opposition sent out a May Day signal to the Government seeking longer Dáil sittings given the heavy legislative load.
When the proposal to adjourn until 2.30pm next Wednesday was put, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked: "Why is the House not sitting on Tuesday?"
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent weighed in on the issue, but conceded that it was hardly worth making a major issue out of losing one day.
"However, with 62 Bills promised for 2007, I take it that this indicates we will have a shorter summer recess and, therefore, we will not oppose this proposal."
Mr Cowen replied: "I understand that it is a bank holiday weekend. The suggestion was that the House returns on Wednesday, with the agreement of members."
Later Michael McDowell reverted to type, after a recent relatively tranquil period, when he took Justice questions.
Fine Gael's Jim O'Keeffe accused him of being "all tongue and no teeth", while Labour's Brendan Howlin observed that "he whistles past the graveyard" blaming others.
The PD rottweiler defended his record on dealing with crime, adding that "no amount of bluster, filibustering, heckling" could change the facts.
The political gods will welcome Mr McDowell wearing his traditional parliamentary clothes given Mr Cowen's donning of his new suit of world-weary gravitas.
There was concern that the garment of the political bruiser was to be left solely to Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue, who shows no sign at all of mellowing when he takes on the Opposition.