Dáil Sketch/Marie O'Halloran:It is a rare occasion in the Dáil when talk turns to exotic blooms but Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny couldn't stop mentioning orchids and it was all because of the Christmas card Bertie Ahern sent him.
Enda was questioning Bertie about school water charges, when he suddenly segued into thanking him for the "beautiful" Christmas card the Taoiseach had sent him, of an orchid. The card said "mo chara - Bertie Ahern", Enda informed us.
"Mo chara, as you know Taoiseach, means 'my friend' and you know the definition of a friend these days," said Enda.
Even Bertie grinned at that.
Enda went on in teacher mode to give us the name and genesis of the orchid. For the record - it was an Aranda Ishbel Manisaki. "Its first date of pollination was November 20th, 1996, and its date of first flowering was March 19th, 2002," said Enda, who without a pause went back to demanding the details of plans for water charges in 2010.
So taken with orchids was Enda, that when it came to the annual ritual of wishing everyone a happy Christmas before TDs departed the Dáil until January 30th, Enda mentioned orchids again, saving his most complimentary words for Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue, whom he compared to Bertie's orchid. Shakespeare it was not, but "like the orchid that was created for the Taoiseach, you have grown into your role", said Enda.
Not only was the Ceann Comhairle something of an exotic bloom, he was also compared to an Olympic champion. Enda said Kerry's orchid had, since first he sat in the chair, "from which you emerged faster than Carl Lewis ever left the blocks, you have shown an ability to understand the frustrations and difficulties experienced by members". Bertie's orchid must be red because such comments could only result in blushes.
The Labour take on skittishness is somewhat different. Smiling broadly, Eamon Gilmore looked to the Mafia for his comparative comments. He said that the nature of what TDs do in the Dáil is political combat. "As Don Corleone famously said, it is not personal, it is just business," he quoted, looking across at the Taoiseach. Bertie smiled, or maybe it was a grimace.
Earlier Eamon had criticised the late January return of the Dáil, pointing out that in the New Year session there would only be 20 sitting days to cover 13 Bills promised for the session. But unusually the adjournment was agreed without a vote.
Labour's chief whip Emmet Stagg seemed to have missed the exchange. As business moved on, he asked in surprise if the recess had been agreed. Amid the banter, he quipped: "I'm not stupid but I am deaf."