EU ministers take time out to enjoy the craic

THE pubs of Dublin are doing well out of the aptly-named "informal" ministerial meetings which go with the Irish Presidency of the EU.

Tonight, the finance ministers will gather for a few discreet sherrys in Kitty O'Shea's pub in the heart of Ruairi Quinn's constituency.

The question is whether they enjoy themselves as much as the trade ministers, who were treated to a banquet by host Enda Kenny in the Viking Centre near Wood Quay on Wednesday night. Later, the ministers and accompanying press contingent moved en masse to Dessie Hynes's pub in Baggot Street, where the drinking and singing went on late into the night.