Overheard on the plinth as Willie Penrose was giving his reasons for resigning as super junior minister: “That’s two jobs I’ve lost thanks to Alan Shatter.”

But Aidan Culhane was philosophical nonetheless: he was beaten for a seat in Dublin South by Alan Shatter, and Shatter’s decision to close Mullingar barracks led to the resignation of minister Penrose, who employed him as an adviser.

Mullingar barracks, by the way, was the place where Fine Gael defence minister, Paddy Donegan, delivered his infamous “Thundering disgrace” speech which provoked a constitutional crisis and led to the resignation of President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh.

Overheard in Grafton Street yesterday, as the arrival of Michael Bublé to switch on the Christmas illuminations caused pandemonium: “Well, they had to do something after Gordon D’Arcy defected to Henry Street.”