As TD Ivan Yates moved from the public enterprise to environment brief in the recent Fine Gael reshuffle, the Margin can only mourn the lost opportunities for future exchanges between Mr Yates and Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke.

Looking to leave his mark, during the final debate on the Government's E-commerce Bill, Mr Yates, who had tabled most of the proposed - and rejected - amendments to the Bill, accused: "I might point out that the Minister has not accepted any amendments, although she's agreed with all of them!" "Because I wanted to keep myself simple and pure," retorted the Minister, to much laughter.