Dail Sketch/Michael O'Regan: Where, the Opposition demanded, was Minister for Justice Michael McDowell? And what about his PD colleagues? With the exception of Liz O'Donnell, Fianna Fáil made up the Government benches when Brian Cowen took the Order of Business.
Bertie Ahern does not do Thursdays in the Dáil, and Mary Harney was busy elsewhere. So it was the Minister for Finance's lot yesterday.
Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan suggested introducing a ministerial appearance Bill so Mr McDowell could make an appearance in the House.
"We are not missing anything," said a voice deep in the Opposition benches. Mr Cowen, oozing a world-weary gravitas, as he does on the Order of Business these days, suggested Mr Durkan's "imaginary Bill" was within his own remit.
Will Mr Cowen revert to type this weekend when he addresses his party's ardfheis in Killarney, praising FF's record and lambasting the Opposition with a flow of colourful rhetoric? Perhaps.
Mind you, he could have a problem getting the backbenchers excited. With the exception of Meath's Johnny Brady, they are a largely silent and worried lot these days when the Government comes under attack in the Dáil.
As for Mr McDowell, he returned with gusto to take Justice questions in the afternoon. While referring to the "encouraging" report of the Independent Monitoring Commission the IRA remained an "illegal, treasonable organisation", he declared.
Meanwhile, the absence of Opposition leaders' questions on a Thursday is cramping Pat Rabbitte's style. As the Labour leader tackled Mr Cowen, he was reminded by Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon that only matters relating to legislation could be raised on the Order of Business.
"There are leaders' questions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and if the deputy is not happy with standing orders, I suggest he arranges to have them changed," said Dr O'Hanlon.
Independent Finian McGrath, addressing Mr Rabbitte, said: "Tell us about the Thursday agreement." This was a reference to a deal Labour did with the Government, pre-Mr Rabbitte's leadership, to gain precedence over the technical group, which allowed Mr Ahern free of Dáil business, including leaders' questions, on Thursdays.
Labour's Emmet Stagg wanted assistance on what parliamentary device he should use to establish the facts on home help cuts. Dr O'Hanlon suggested he raise the issue in an adjournment debate, but Mr Stagg said the Government was sending in Minister of State Ivor Callely to answer everything in these debates.
"We should close down the House altogether," said Fine Gael's Michael Ring.
Cheer up, Michael. The House will close for one of its sitting days after the onerous October bank holiday weekend. Then there are the Christmas, St Patrick's Day and Easter recesses, not to mention the three-month summer break from plenary sessions.
Michael has been very vocal in opposing these adjournments.