Timeless humour for the Minister

ENTERPRISE and Employment Minister Richard Bruton was in fine form on Tuesday, at the annual Crafts Council of Ireland lunch.

The occasion was the announcement of details of the number of jobs created as a result of orders placed by overseas buyers at the Showcase Ireland craft fair last January.

Despite having stoutly defended a beleaguered Minister for Justice, Mrs Nora Owen on radio that morning over the issue of non receipt of undated letters and attending a Cabinet meeting, as well as facing the prospect of a protracted Dail debate, he still found time to crack a joke or two.

Mr Cyril Forbes, the outgoing chairman of the Crafts Council, distributed his speech to assembled journalists, with the words that "It's an undated speech!"