Ahern gets some baby kissing practice

The sign at the entrance to the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin makes it clear. "No visiting. Please respect patients' need for rest," it says with a big red line between a little Mama and Papa sign. The visiting hours, the sign explains in small print, are between 3pm and 4pm and 6pm and 8.30pm, but there are exceptions, and the most important exception in the country arrived just after 2.15pm on Saturday to see his grandchildren for the first time.

There to greet the Taoiseach was an expectant crowd. One half, the media, were there for him, the other half, a crowd of teenage girls, were there for his son-in-law, Nicky Byrne.

Nicky came bounding down the steps of the hospital entrance as Mr Ahern got out of the car and the two hugged each other as grandfather and son-in-law would expect to do after the birth of a first child, or children as in this case."Georgina loves flowers, so we kept it simple," the Taoiseach said in response to a question as to what he had brought his daughter.

"Nicky described it as the happiest day of his life. How does it feel for you?" he was asked. "I'm delighted. When we heard they were seven weeks premature, I was bit worried, but everything is fine."

"Taoiseach, they arrived two months early. Will you call the election now and go right ahead?" elicited only laughter from the new grandfather. "Will this be the first time you ever kissed babies before the election?" "I'm afraid not," he replied.