Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

In the middle of the debate, while Deputies Howlin and Jim O'Keeffe were making valid points, the Tánaiste was figuring out number five across, or whatever number it was, six letters — "absent". Can the Taoiseach explain the matter or will he have the Chief Whip do so? It seems that, while the words were strong with regard to the necessity of getting through issues which the Tánaiste did not formerly accept but has since inserted into the Bill, all of a sudden the boys and girls were absent when a quorum was called. At least the Fianna Fáil crowd had some excuse to say they were stuck in traffic while heading to Citywest to hear a prudent Taoiseach make a prudent speech about safeguarding the people's money. However, the others were supposed to be here and led by the Tánaiste who may have been listening to some exceptionally talented pianist play "I Did It My Way".

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