Dáil Sketch/Michael O'Regan: For one fleeting moment yesterday, it seemed as if the long-running war might be over. Pat Rabbitte and Michael McDowell, sparring partners inside and outside the Dáil, had a summit meeting in the lobby of the chamber.
What could it have been all about? Mr McDowell had just vacated his seat next to the Taoiseach during statements on the North. As he made his way out of the chamber, Mr Rabbitte left his seat and the two men spoke.
Judging by the body language, it seemed amicable.
But was it any more than a quick word on the North? Perhaps. Or, perhaps, just a brief ceasefire to ease the tensions of these turbulent political times.
Earlier, the two had clashed when Mr Rabbitte challenged the Taoiseach on the Government's fuel allowance. As the Labour leader began to raise his voice, Mr McDowell remarked: "I see a hissy-fit coming on." Mr Rabbitte, with a laugh laden with cynicism, replied: "If anyone in the House is going to talk about hissy-fits, I would have thought the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is best qualified to advise us on them."
Mr Ahern, meanwhile, was quizzed about appointing friends to State boards. The Taoiseach indicated he was blessed by their lack of suitability for such jobs.
"I have many friends who, with the greatest respect, lack the knowledge, expertise and experience to serve on boards," said Mr Ahern.
"The number of those people whom one would appoint is limited, and there is none in my department because I would not have people involved in certain technical areas such as statistics." A suggestion by Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin that the appointments be made by way of public advertisement was dismissed. "I do not see anything wrong with the system," said Mr Ahern. "It has served the country well."
By late afternoon it was clear the war was far from over, as the gravitas-stricken Minister for Finance Brian Cowen took Question Time.
Labour's Joan Burton accused Mr Cowen of ignoring the European Court of Justice's ruling regarding refuse charges.
As the exchanges continued, Ms Burton claimed Mr Cowen was engaging in "cheap shots". Mr Cowen remarked they were in a parliament and not a creche.
With a level of illumination that only Dáil proceedings can provide, the remaining exchanges went like this.
Ms Burton: "The Minister should answer the question."
Mr Cowen: "I am answering the question."
Ms Burton: "The Minister is going off on a tangent because he is not able to answer the question."
Mr Cowen: "The question I am answering . . ."
Ms Burton: "Answer the question."
Mr Cowen: "I will leave it at that, a Leas Cheann-Comhairle."
The Minister sat down. Perhaps Ms Burton and himself were suffering from hissy-fits.