Dáil Sketch/Michael O'Regan: The infamous missing file in the Department of Health and one TD's brush with death dominated the Order of Business.
With Mary Harney presiding, Pat Rabbitte warmed to the political fallout from the nursing homes controversy.
"What investigation is going on inside the Department of Health following the discovery that the critical file from the Attorney General was being squatted on by the previous Minister?" he asked.
Ceann Comhairle Rory O'Hanlon said the question did not arise under the standing orders regulating the Order of Business.
"The entire controversy pivots around the missing file from the Attorney General," Mr Rabbitte insisted.
Despite a renewed warning from the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Rabbitte declared: "Since 1919, it has been possible to ask a question as the leader of a party on the Order of Business."
Dr O'Hanlon said that standing orders had been implemented by his predecessors since the foundation of the State.
Persisting, Mr Rabbitte wanted to know if there was any investigation going on into the missing file.
"There has been a major reorganisation of the department. It has a new secretary general," Ms Harney said. "Considerable effort was spent trying to locate that famous file from the Attorney General, but it has yet to be found. I do not have it in my possession."
Meanwhile, Independent Clare TD James Breen raised his serious illness of last year. "I have heard nothing from the Tánaiste regarding her commitment to the House in October 2004 to investigate my brush with the MRSA superbug," he declared. "Her department has all my records from the hospital in question." There was no stopping Mr Breen, even when the Ceann Comhairle suggested he submit a written question to Ms Harney. "I nearly lost my life because of the MRSA superbug," he declared. "When will the issue be addressed?"
The Ceann Comhairle, a doctor, said he appreciated the seriousness of Mr Breen's remarks, but there were other ways of raising the issue.
When Labour's Joan Burton suggested the Tánaiste persuade doctors to wash their hands regularly, a chorus of Opposition deputies accused the Government of washing its hands of various issues.
As the Order of Business petered out, Fianna Fáil's Séan Haughey noted the reduction of his Dublin North Central constituency from four seats to three under the Electoral (Amendment) Bill.
In 2007, all going well, his family would have given 50 years of public service to the constituency, he said. And he expressed the hope he would be re-elected to allow him continue to serve the people.
It might be two years away, but the election campaign is firmly under way.