While walking through Dublin yesterday morning, I encountered the surreal sight of Robert Watt, secretary general of the Department of Public Expenditure, being accosted by a bunch of screaming schoolkids.

If Watt was a Christmas character, he would have to be Scrooge, given the necessities of his job. But to the kids, he may as well have been Britney Spears.

As he passed the Bank of Ireland on College Green, he was greeted by a schoolteacher, who obviously knew him. She introduced him to the 30 or so little ’uns following behind her. That’s when all the noise started. And they weren’t screams of fear.

Go easy on the education budget next year, Robert. Their future is in your hands.