Dail Sketch/Michael O'Regan: As the House convulsed itself in a bitter row about the delayed publication of the Travers report, there was at least one happy man on the Government benches.
He was Foreign Affairs Junior Minister, Conor Lenihan, who had vacated his second row seat for one near the Taoiseach and senior ministers on the front row.
Had there been a dramatic ministerial resignation, arising out of the report, and the promotion of Mr Lenihan, who smiled and smiled as insults and accusations were thrown across the chamber?
No, it emerged. But would heads roll when the report is published today?
Labour's Pat Rabbitte wanted to know if media rumours about the sacking of officials were justified.
And what of former minister for health Michéal Martin and his juniors at the time, Ivor Callely and Tim O'Malley?
Mr Rabbitte joined Fine Gael's Enda Kenny in focusing on the three Fianna Fáil ministers.
Referring to Mr Martin, the Labour leader claimed "Steve Silvermint knew nothing about anything". Mr Martin, sitting on the Government benches, smiled. Mr Callely and Mr O'Malley were not present.
Mr Kenny wondered if the Taoiseach was "prepared to be decisive in terms of his requirement as Taoiseach", if the three ministers had done nothing about a situation whereby hundreds of thousands of people had payments illegally taken from them.
Mr Martin smiled, but not as broadly as Mr Lenihan who continued to look comfortable in his unaccustomed location among his senior colleagues.
Fine Gael's Paul McGrath urged Mr Martin to keep his head down, and wondered if he was writing his resignation. Mr Martin, he said, should be ready. Mr Martin smiled.
An unsmiling and visibly angry Taoiseach defended the delay in publishing the report.
The Government had received the report earlier, he declared, adding that it was long and detailed, running to more than 160 pages and deserving of full consideration.
The Government would proceed to take "appropriate decisions" at the earliest possible opportunity, said Mr Ahern. Meanwhile, it would not be appropriate for him to comment on the report.
Later, Mr Rabbitte hurtled figures at the Taoiseach and Mr Martin.
"Since Deputy Martin knew about this in 2001, he has cost the taxpayer €600 million," he declared. "That is based on the Government calculation of €2.5 million a week."
In Leinster House and on the byelection hustings last night politicians wondered if the report, commissioned by Health Minister Mary Harney, would yield any casualties following today's publication.