Dail Sketch/Marie O'Halloran: The smell of political blood was in the air and the Opposition wanted scalps. The Travers report into nursing home charges was unseen.
But with news of "official" accountability in the removal of the secretary general of the Department of Health, "political" accountability was demanded.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny taunted the Taoiseach, saying he failed to have the "political courage" to dismiss former minister for health Michéal Martin. He believed it to be the biggest "political handwashing job since Pontius Pilate". Enda wanted Junior Ministers Tim O'Malley and Ivor Callely to go too. Calling them "Tweedledee and Tweedledum", he said they sat at meetings and "like the three monkeys, they heard nothing, they saw nothing and they did nothing".
Thumping the bench for emphasis, he also caught the startled attention of his own front bench.
Bertie Ahern said it was a pity that people didn't wait to see and study reports before they commented on them.
After persistent interruption he said that "a circular went out this morning with an instruction to come in and heckle the Taoiseach" - which prompted a deluge of heckling.
A lot of money would have to be repaid, the Taoiseach said, and "there are lessons to learn". "And ministers to save," retorted Enda.
Pat Rabbitte took a little trip down memory lane to another controversy over the retirement of a judge.
Michéal Martin had said at the time that "it seems that civil servants must take the fall for political failure and negligence on the part of the minister, the attorney general and others in government".
Through it all the Minister under attack, Michéal Martin, sat silently, a slight smile on his face. But when the Labour leader referred to the agenda of a key meeting, the former health minister could not resist a comment. "You should read the agenda," he said to Pat Rabbitte.
"How could I? You were the one who was there," he replied.
"You have the minutes," ventured Minister for Finance Brian Cowen. "You were there too - shut up!" retorted an angry Pat Rabbitte to a bemused, collective "ooh" from Government benches.
When the Labour leader accused the Taoiseach of using manipulation to avoid responsibility and to "escape" for five weeks, Bertie said softly "I resent the implication that I am going to Butlin's on my holidays".
Mr Rabbitte conceded that "in fairness the Taoiseach is a very hard worker" and "I will take that back".
But he had to add: "You're cleverly avoiding your duty of accountability to the House."