Dáil Sketch:Bertie Ahern is not the "Nostradamus of the Northside". It is grossly unfair that he should be expected to have foreseen the massive economic growth of the last decade, writes Miriam Lord.
He is being pilloried for presiding over the good times while failing to keep pace with the infrastructural demands brought on by record expansion.
Why blame the Taoiseach? He's as surprised as the rest of us. Who would have imagined it, back in the bad old days? As Ireland Inc powered forward, the Government couldn't help but stand back in amazement.
Finally, after 10 years at the helm, it seems the Taoiseach is beginning to curb his wide-eyed sense of wonder. He might still marvel in the Dáil at how well we have all done, but Bertie isn't mesmerised anymore.
The slack-jaw days are gone in Government Buildings. It's time to play catch-up.
About time, say the Opposition. Just in time for the election too.
Unfortunately, while the Coalition was busy celebrating the economy's runaway success, the problems it spawned continued apace. Now the electorate is uneasy. The Opposition is scathing. The Government is scrambling.
"We can't solve all the problems overnight," Bertie has become fond of telling the House. He said it again yesterday.
A fresh humility can be heard in his replies. The slightly penitent air he wore during Leaders' Questions went well with his Lenten ashes.
Although had the application of holy ash matched his apologetic tone, he would have turned up looking like Al Jolson after a particularly heavy session with the boot polish.
It's not that the Taoiseach admitted being remiss in the forward planning department - far from it. What ordinary bloke could have predicted the economic explosion? However, in reply to all three party leaders, he conceded the system cannot provide immediate solutions to problems in the areas of health, traffic management and environmental emissions.
It will take more than money, deduced Bertie, finally seeing the light.
Enda Kenny was still recovering from his visit to Beaumont Hospital's accident and emergency department on Tuesday night. He was appalled by what he saw. Whatever happened to the 300 step-down beds promised for St Joseph's in Fairview and St Mary's in the Phoenix Park?
The Taoiseach was on solid ground with his first answer. "First of all, St Joseph's is in Raheny, not Fairview," he stated with great authority.
Things went a little askew after that. The beds should be ready in about a year, but even then, they won't be enough. There's a lot of old people in densely-populated north Dublin, and people are getting older all the time. It's a big difficulty and won't be solved in a hurry, Bertie concluded.
Pat Rabbitte was worried about the M50, which resembles rush hour in Calcutta since trucks started spewing from the port tunnel. What's the story with the sale of West Link toll bridge? Bertie explained a billion euro upgrade of the motorway would be finished by 2010, and barrier-free tolling will be in place by 2008. Pat was unconvinced.
Right enough, agreed the Taoiseach, the M50 is a bit overstretched at the moment. It would be "nice" to have foreseen our great economic miracle, he sighed in frustration. But who could have imagined it?
Meanwhile, Trevor Sargent, wasn't pleased with the carbon emission side-effects of the boom. If the Government is committed to reducing climate change gases, the figures should be going down instead of up.
Humble Bertie pointed out that the Government is trying to "deliver a steeply ambitious target". Going by the current situation, scoffed the Greens, he hasn't a hope.
Downbeat Bertie admitted there are problem areas. "I'm not going to say that's not a difficulty for us." And he's off the drink for Lent too. It's not fair.