DAIL SKETCH/Frank McNally: The Taoiseach was just back from his epic tour of Asia, the highlight of which was having an orchid named after him by the Botanic Gardens in Singapore.
Unfortunately, orchids are not known to thrive in the briar patch of Leinster House. And it didn't take long for the returning Bertie to lose some of his bloom.
It was a day when the opposition parties co-ordinated their lines of questioning, perhaps prompted by a demonstration outside over conditions in accident and emergency departments.
Thus the Oriental Orchid found himself under attack by everything from greenfly (Trevor Sargent) to the local wildlife (Pat Rabbitte). Add to this his exposure to the draught from an unusually angry Enda Kenny, and the overall effect was withering.
In fact, it was the Fine Gael leader who opened the offensive. Mr Kenny is clearly benefiting from his new health spokesman's practical knowledge of medicine. For, although Dr Liam Twomey had no speaking role yesterday, his handwriting was all over the prescription offered by his leader when he predicted an imminent worsening of hospital bed shortages caused by the winter vomiting bug, and asked how the Government planned to cope.
Awarding Mr Ahern "one out of 10" for his response, Mr Kenny had the confidence of a man who'd just graduated top of his class in medical school. He said the first thing the Government should do was improve basic hygiene in hospitals.
Following him, Pat Rabbitte targeted the Taoiseach's reputation as a modern-day Marco Polo. "When are you going to stop flying round the world and confront the biggest issue facing us?" he asked.
Then it was the Greens' turn, with Mr Sargent comparing the reality of patients on trolleys to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, which will ensure first-class bedding for patients with three or more legs.
It was around now that Micheál Martin entered the chamber. Mr Martin has not been Minister for Health for more than a fortnight, but he still has the relieved look of someone who's just had a gallstone removed. "There's a happy man", quipped John Gormley.
Yesterday also featured the maiden question-time performances of Dermot Ahern and Conor Lenihan, who had some explaining to do about Sinn Féin's future role in government and overseas aid, respectively.
There was a cameo appearance, too, by Michael Smith, sitting high on the back benches and looking almost as well co-ordinated as the opposition, in an autumnal brown ensemble.
Autumnal must have been how his leader was feeling. Clearly wilting after the health ambush, Mr Ahern dispensed with the practice of standing up while answering questions, and the Botanic Gardens in Singapore must have seemed a long way away.