Another tale from Mo Mowlam's lunch with the Institute of Directors last week, when she took questions at random from the floor. One executive stood up and said he had lived in England for 18 years, and knew that the vast majority of ordinary English people would like their government to simply leave Ireland.

"Most of them are far more concerned with issues like whether Rupert Murdoch is going to buy Manchester United," he explained.

"So is the Taoiseach!" replied Dr Mowlam.