The Taoiseach and his Ministers are so busy that the Government may not be represented at the Ireland-Spain World Cup game in South Korea on Sunday.
This emerged yesterday, as Ireland's victory was celebrated with abandon in towns and cities throughout the State. As was the case elsewhere, all but essential work came to a halt in Leinster House and Government Buildings for the game.
In the past, Ministers have been accused of junketeering in flying to foreign locations to cheer Ireland on, but the accusation cannot be made against the current Coalition.
A spokeswoman for the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, a self-confessed soccer fanatic, told The Irish Times he had no plans to travel to South Korea. "He is very busy on Government business."
A spokeswoman for the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, said: "The Minister has no plans to travel for the game, as of the moment."
Earlier Mr Ahern, speaking to journalists at Government Buildings, congratulated the Irish team: "It was a great, great achievement for the country - first to qualify and now to get into the second round unbeaten. It is something big to celebrate."
Mr Ahern is currently choosing his junior ministers, a sensitive task at the best of times, but particularly so this time, given the number of disappointed backbenchers he has to consider for advancement following his Cabinet line-up last week.
Government sources said this was taking up a good deal of the Taoiseach's time. He and his Ministers have also to prepare for next week's Dáil session.
Apart from taking their seats in the VIP section at Croke Park on All-Ireland day, there is always a dilemma facing politicians attending major sporting events. Sometimes the public reaction can be negative, if the politician is perceived to be too intrusive.
Mr Charles Haughey, when Taoiseach, was accused of taking over the event when he flew to Paris to congratulate Stephen Roche on winning the Tour de France.
In previous governments, there has been criticism of too many ministers abandoning their desks for the World Cup. However, even if we progress further on Sunday, that seems unlikely to happen with the image-conscious and industrious new Government.
The Department of Agriculture has reissued its advice to soccer fans to prevent them bringing back foot-and-mouth disease, as thousands prepare to follow the national side to Korea, writes Sean MacConnell.
The authorities there confirmed three more cases of the disease in pigs near the town of Chinchon 60-90 km south of Seoul.
There have been 15 cases of the disease in Korea in recent weeks and, although the authorities slaughtered 126,000 animals, mainly pigs, the problem persists.
