Sitting beside the President at an antique desk, Bertie Ahern gave a good impression of a boy asking for a note to let him go on an eagerly awaited school trip, writes Róisín Ingle
The election campaign is bound to have its tricky moments but this first part was a stroll in the park. Watched by a squirrel on the lawn, cattle in the field and an expectant media pack, a smiling Bertie Ahern walked from his Mercedes into Áras an Uachtaráin to officially bring an end to the 28th Dáil.
The atmosphere was just as relaxed inside at a few minutes past nine yesterday morning. Looking poised in pink, Mrs McAleese posed for photographs in the State reception room with the Taoiseach in front of a flower display which co-ordinated perfectly with her three-quarter-length jacket and his purple tie.
Then it was down to business. The wording of the Taoiseach's request for dissolution called on the President to gather together those elected on May 17th to "meet in the city of Dublin on Thursday, the 6th day of June, 2002, at the hour of 10.30 o'clock a.m. for the despatch of such business as shall be submitted to it". Sitting beside the President at an antique desk, the Taoiseach duly gave a very good impression of a little boy asking his mother to sign a permission slip for an eagerly awaited school outing.
President McAleese smiled indulgently at the Taoiseach as she signed the Proclamation of Dissolution, thus bringing an official end to this Dáil.
The formalities were completed in minutes. "Good luck," said the President more than once as she shook his hand firmly before disappearing with the Taoiseach for a chat.
When Mr Ahern emerged shortly afterwards into the sunshine and clear blue skies, he said it was an achievement to have presided over the longest-serving government since the second World War.
"I am never confident," he said confidently when asked what he felt his party's chances were in the election. "But we are going to work hard on this campaign." Asked about criticism that he had exited the Dáil the night before with more of a whimper than a bang, he laughed and said it was funny that people thought it was too soon when they had waited so long for an election date.
Then he was gone, back into the black Mercedes, where a dishevelled box of man-size tissues could be seen on the shelf under the rear window. As he sped off to launch his party's manifesto, the Taoiseach wore an expression that suggested, whatever about his opponents, he wouldn't be needing such accessories any time soon.