Dáil Sketch:The poisoned chalice gets passed around from time to time and yesterday it was Martin Cullen's turn to take a sip. As a number of Cabinet Ministers headed to Dundalk to meet the Northern Ireland Executive, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs was left to face the Opposition lions in the Dáil.
On his first outing, the Minister from Waterford had the comfort of military support from Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea, a substantial line-out of junior Ministers and Government backbenchers.
In the end it wasn't needed as the usual full-throttle Fine Gael and Labour roaring at Bertie Ahern dissipated to friendlier and subdued jousting.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny got the first laugh when he told everyone that "the country is in safe hands".
"I remember with great clarity the day the former Progressive Democrats candidate handed in his letter of acceptance to Fianna Fáil and said 'this is the happiest day of my life'.
"Here he is in charge of the nation."
But Cullen was quick to riposte "and some things don't change. Deputy Kenny is still over there," he smiled at the Opposition benches.
Enda chose to deal with a few of Martin's previous roles, including as embattled minister for transport, and asked what was the story with the roll-out of speed cameras.
But Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue cut him off and said such a question should be addressed to the "appropriate Minister".
Enda also asked when would legislation to reform lone parent income see the light of day.
That was an easy one and the Minister gave an erudite response - without a date.
"You won't need a speed camera for that," quipped Fine Gael's Richard Bruton.
Then the talk turned to how well the Minister was looking in light of a reported row with Cabinet colleague Mary Hanafin on the delay in legislation giving Waterford Institute of Technology university status.
Labour deputy leader Joan Burton said he looked well given the alleged "ferocious run-in".
The ceann comhairle pointed out that "how a Minister looks is not relevant to the Order of Business", which garnered more smiles all around. Joan persisted. "I think he looks rather well in the circumstances."
"He does," her colleague Michael D Higgins agreed.
Joan then expressed concern about what would happen when Bertie headed for the hills. "Having read the reports of the battle at the meeting after the Taoiseach left, God knows what will happen when he retires."
"Deputy Burton can have a chat about it afterwards," the ceann comhairle suggested.
There were more questions, and even a rare joke from Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, although it did leave a few confused faces.
Welcoming Mr Cullen and Mr O'Dea, he said he was thinking of the "dream ticket and what the acronym would be - vote C, O'D". So at the end of the Order of Business, how did the first-timer do? Well, teacher Enda was impressed. He told the House that the Minister "gave very clear answers without giving very much information".
