Dáil Sketch: Tánaiste Michael McDowell still forgets he is the State's second-most senior politician, to the amusement of the Opposition.
His forgetfulness prompted humour on a Dáil day when some serious issues came up for discussion.
The PD leader was challenged about the introduction of legislation on fertility clinics and, in replying, he forgot who he was. "The Tánaiste has instructed officials in her department . . ."
It was only when Labour's Brendan Howlin drew to his attention that in fact he was the Tánaiste, that he noticed. "Sorry, the former Tánaiste," he corrected, as the Opposition fell about laughing. Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan suggested that the reason the Tánaiste, unencumbered by flowing locks, was so forgetful was because he "is having a bad hair day".
Mr McDowell offered a different reason. "I'm glad that my innate humility comes out yet again on this occasion." He confirmed that the Minister for Health had instructed officials to start drafting the legislation.
"The Minister for Health is determined to deal with the regulation of fertility clinics."
The cut and thrust of parliamentary debate turned distinctly sharp with the issue of nursing homes. Green Party TD John Gormley asked about withdrawing tax relief offered to owners for the development of nursing homes.
He was in no doubt that "it is the Government's profit-before- people philosophy that is the root cause of this".
An angry Tánaiste was having none of it. "Yet again, ideology is blinding Deputy Gormley to the reality," he stormed.
Dan Boyle stepped in to defend his party colleague. "Whose ideology?" he asked. "You're sponsoring bad practice," he retorted to the Tánaiste. "Your right-wing ideology is adding to this problem," Mr Gormley threw in before Mr McDowell could reply. "Let me answer," he demanded. "There's no point behaving like a fascist over there."
The Ceann Comhairle calmly suggested that if the Tánaiste addressed his remarks through the chair, "it might be easier to control the disorderly deputies".
And calmly through the chair, the Tánaiste explained that "the public and private sectors are putting unprecedented resources into nursing homes and anything that encourages more to be invested is a good thing, not a bad thing".
It was then Fine Gael's turn again to try to embarrass the Government. The party's defence spokesman, Billie Timmins, asked about guidelines on what launches and events Ministers should attend.
It soon became clear that his target was Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea and his decision to withdraw from the launch of a book about Limerick republican Seán South of Garryowen, whose death in 1957 during an attack on an RUC barracks inspired a rebel ballad.
Whatever the Tánaiste might have thought, the Ceann Comhairle was having no discussion on the issue.
Mr Timmins persisted, describing Mr O'Dea as "a multifaceted Minister in a multifaceted Government".
Minister John O'Donoghue quipped, "I believe he's a Garryowen man."