The mood could be described as careful when the Cabinet members and their partners gathered in Aras an Uachtarain for the annual new-year dinner hosted by the President, Mrs McAleese and her husband, Martin, on Tuesday, the night before the Dail returned after the Christmas recess. As they tucked into fillet of beef, the country was watching the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern being grilled on Prime Time on the Gilmartin payments. No doubt the videos were recording it all.
Welcoming her guests, Mrs McAleese said she knew they all had a tough year ahead but they didn't have to talk about politics now. Indeed, she had already been discussing knitting with the Tanaiste, Mary Harney and skiing with Celia Larkin. Nonetheless, the crisis was a major topic around the room.
Two ministers were missing - David Andrews who was in Teheran and Sile de Valera who was ill - but the two "super" juniors were there Seamus Brennan and Bobby Molloy.
Non-Government guests included the secretary to the government Frank Murray, the President's adviser Eileen Gleeson and her husband Comdt Gerry Hegarty, the assistant secretary to the Government Peter Ryan and the President's secretary Brian McCarthy. At the end of the evening - and they were all gone by 11 p.m. in anticipation of the next day's drama - the Taoiseach thanked the President for her hospitality and her quiet work on North/South relations.
A couple of weeks ago, but well into the New Year, the Taoiseach hosted the annual Christmas dinner for the Cabinet. It took place at the headquarters of CERT in Amiens Street in his own constituency and was a non-partner event. There was no singing or dancing at either occasion.