One more thing:Eircom staff have long been considered to have the cushiest jobs in town, which might explain why Australian owner Babcock & Brown has decided to let employees have a "trial run" of three different styles of chair for its new head office near Heuston Station, which will open in six months.

"These top three chairs will shortly go on display in the canteens at St Stephen's Green and Cumberland House to allow staff to fasten their seat belts and take a test drive," said a cheery note to Eircom staff earlier this week. "An online voting system will be created on the intranet and the ballot will contain photos of each of the nominees, so that you don't confuse the cushy candidates."

Eircom has plumped for a first-past-the-post system, without transfers. The project is being managed by the HSQ (shorthand for Heuston Square) Steering Group and the Partnership Focus Group, who are also collating "valuable feedback" on "colour schemes, desk layout and functionality". It could only happen in Eircom.