The west was very much awake in the Dáil yesterday. Awake and irate over the jailing of the five Mayo men for breaching a court order to stop obstructing work on the Shell Corrib gas pipeline.
It was anger that would not be sidelined and as six Opposition TDs individually sought the adjournment of the Dáil for a special debate on the controversy, the Ceann Comhairle indicated that a "special notice" debate could take place later in the day.
But once the "release the Mayo five" lobby had been answered, the questions moved to health, a call for a debate on health insurance and the Tánaiste's decision not to allow risk equalisation.
The Opposition appeared to be on a roll. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny seemed about to raise the old chestnut of the House rising early for the summer, but that looks set for today's debate. For in a rare occurrence on a Friday there will be a full Dáil schedule.
But there was no lack of other old chestnuts and Labour leader Pat Rabbitte broached a very old reliable - the hugely controversial Hanly report on regional hospital development.
"What is the Government position on the Hanly report?" he queried, mischievously.
The Tánaiste did not bite, not directly at any rate. "It is Government policy to have regional self-sufficiency in so far as possible," she said.
"That means self-sufficiency is equal to Hanly," said Labour's Emmet Stagg.
It was the National Aquatic Centre and its leaks that provoked much ire and humour.
Enda Kenny wanted to know from the Tánaiste if she or the Taoiseach would correct his comments that the "wind" was responsible for the roof blowing off the centre in the January "tornado", amid reports of cracks in the pool and millions of gallons of water leaking.
Ms Harney suggested that "it is important that we all know the difference between wind, hot air and tornadoes".
Mr Rabbitte quipped back: "It is important that we know the difference between indoor and open air."
Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins expressed the hope that "most members of the Government are on the roof the next time a tornado hits".
Independent deputy James Breen prepared a tornado of his own for the Dáil in the autumn with a warning for the Tánaiste.
Mr Breen, who previously told the Dáil he nearly lost his life with the MRSA superbug, asked the Tánaiste what message she had for sufferers.
Accusing her of being "blatantly arrogant" in refusing to meet victims, he warned that if she had not agreed to meet them by October he would not walk out of the Dáil.
"I will have to be carried out of the House," he said.
Stretching out his arm, he said he could not raise it above his head because of the bug. "How long can the Tánaiste ignore the victims?" he asked.