THE spin doctors could not have planned it better. After the drama of late-night arm-twisting in order to secure the single currency agreement, the deal was announced at 3.45 p.m. on Friday.
The good news from Dublin was announced in time for newspaper deadlines and the main evening news bulletins across Europe.
There was no guarantee that the media handlers would have it all their own way. Just in case, the media machine was cranking out material on measures to combat drug trafficking. The new euro currency notes were also unveiled, two angles they hoped would give a positive spin to the Dublin summit, even if there was no agreement on the stability pact.
But it was the agreement announced by the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, at a press conference that ensured Dublin remained on the front pages of European newspapers over the weekend.
The summit was a major story. Europe and the world's media had invested huge sums of money in personnel and equipment to cover it. The journalists and technicians were going to report the summit, whatever happened but the Irish presidency did not want its achievement crowned with a story reporting a split over the way forward on the single currency.
The summit attracted just under 2,000 media people, about average for a summit. There were two press conferences, the Friday afternoon event, where Mr Quinn performed and a final one on Saturday afternoon, hosted by the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton.
Those who attended heard Mr Bruton talk of making the streets of Europe safer and confronting organised crime. However, an RTE journalist leaving the Taoiseach's press conference pointed out that gang murders on Dublin's streets would lead the news.
At media briefings European rules applied, so the Government press secretary, Mr Shane Kenny, acted as press secretary for the presidency. Mr Kenny usually operates within the so called lobby rules, like his British counterpart. Mr Kenny is rarely seen briefing journalists nor is he quoted by name. He appears as an anonymous source, or a source close to the Government.
Mr Kenny, as a former RTE journalist, is not unused to the limelight, but he said he would be returning to anonymity today though, pondering on his European experience, would not be adverse to doing on the record briefings within the Irish political context.
British journalists were really covering British domestic politics in Dublin. British tabloids fulminated against the size of the space where the Sovereign's portrait will adorn the British euro. The Daily Mail bemoaned the end of over 1,000 years of British history, with the introduction of the new notes.
Europe of course, has the greatest impact on the politics of the EU's most reluctant member.
Mr John Major was asked about the stability of his own - now minority - government and Anglo Irish affairs. He was also handed a photograph of himself and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Kenneth Clarke, having a pint in a Dublin pub by Charlie Bird.
The extra costs incurred by the Government for press relations during the presidency was about £200,000. Mr Kenny headed a committee which over saw all the details, from the number of work stations for the print media, the provision of RTE's studio at Dublin Castle, right down to the shoulder bags given to journalists to hold the press releases.
Finally, all the journalists received some smoked salmon and a bottle of whiskey. One British journalist was overheard commenting that the Irish were so sensible. Other presidencies gave out tourist trinkets, but in Dublin they got a nice smoked salmon and a bottle of booze, and just before Christmas. On such details is success measured.