DÁIL SKETCH / Frank McNally: The Dáil tiptoed around the Curtin case, after a warning by the Ceann Comhairle that TDs might yet have to sit in judgment of the judge.
Party leaders agreed on the need for caution, although Pat Rabbitte couldn't resist recalling another judicial controversy during the life of the Rainbow Coalition. It was a much less serious issue, he said, but it had been enough to send the Fianna Fáil spokesman on justice "on a rampage that made Peter O'Toole's role in The Field look restrained".
This was a bit harsh on Peter O'Toole, whose performance in The Field was so self-effacing that nobody except the Labour leader can remember it at all. But aside from this and a swipe at Noel O'Flynn for his headline-grabbing, Mr Rabbitte was so restrained that he made Richard Harris's performance as Lawrence of Arabia look over the top.
For his part, the Taoiseach confirmed that the Government was seeking reports from the Garda and the DPP, and an explanation by next Tuesday from Judge Curtin.
In the meantime, the Dáil could only wait.
There were other issues to discuss, anyway. Fans of The Field will remember that the drama revolved around the conflict between a Kerryman and (in the film version) a "Yank". This was also the subplot of fiery exchanges yesterday, as Joe Higgins belatedly reviewed the Taoiseach's St Patrick's Day visit to the White House - it was TDs' first opportunity for questions about the trip - and previewed the US President's reciprocal visit in June.
The row saw a rehash of well-worn opinions about WMD. But it took on a whole new flavour in the context of this weekend's May Day protests, with Mr Higgins seeing the Government's dark hand in "hyping" the threat of violence. When Fine Gael's Jim O'Keeffe promised the law-and-order party's support for all necessary security measures and Mr Ahern responded by assuring him that all Garda leave had been cancelled, it was more than the Socialist Party leader could stand.
Angrier than Bull McCabe, he accused the Government of trying to provoke trouble, to discourage the general public from protest, and to pre-empt opposition to the Bush visit in June.
He was even angrier when the Taoiseach responded by inviting him to call on certain British organisations not to come to Ireland at the weekend, in the tone of voice Mr Ahern once used to suggest that Saddam Hussein could still avert war by doing the right thing.
Somehow restraining his anger, Mr Higgins appealed to protesters not to fall into the trap. "Nobody should lift a finger or throw stones," he said - his own finger wagging at the Taoiseach - because that was just what the Government wanted them to do.