Sticks and stones may break my bones but names . . . etc etc. It seems Bertie Ahern's criticism of Michael O'Leary's handling of the bitter baggage handlers' dispute at Ryanair had little effect on the thick-skinned airline boss.

Did it bother him that the Taoiseach called him "jumped up a bit", Mr O'Leary was asked during the course of an interview published in the Financial Times on Tuesday. "My mother calls me jumped up. I wouldn't worry about it," Mr O'Leary replied.

Take note Aer Rianta!