Never let it be said that Brian Cowen doesn't keep his promises. He started yesterday by keeping a pledge made in the Dáil last week to Fine Gael's PJ Sheehan, writes Marie O'Halloran.
The Cork South West deputy had asked if, unlike outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, he would come into the Dáil on Thursdays when he got the big job.
"Absolutely not," the Tánaiste had declared.
And so it proved. Cowen became the acting taoiseach while the real Taoiseach was in the US, and perhaps in a "start as you mean to continue" attitude he was "in the building" so to speak, but not in the Dáil chamber.
Perhaps he was pondering his new Cabinet, a possibility that has several Ministers anxiously contemplating their futures.
Perhaps too it was a test for Minister Micheál Martin to see how he'd fare in the Tánaiste's stead, when he was sent in to face the tigers of the Opposition, who turned out to be pussycats.
But Micheál had to sit on his own for a full 10 minutes on the Cabinet Ministers' bench before Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan rushed in to show support.
She was followed shortly afterwards by Ministers Eamon Ryan and Éamon Ó Cuív.
Enda Kenny was first up.
"I was going to ask if the Minister is looking forward to a change of department next week, but I don't suppose that's in order."
"No it's not," the Ceann Comhairle replied quickly.
Labour's Eamon Gilmore couldn't resist. "Where's the rest of the Cabinet?" he asked as Minister Micheál sat solo.
"They can't all be cleaning out their desks," he said to hearty laughter from the Opposition and even bigger grins from the ever-hopeful Government backbenches.
When he asked "does he expect to be here every Thursday morning", Minister Micheál merely smiled coyly and kept his mouth shut.
Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan was next to poke fun.
"Notwithstanding the timidity with which the Minister's colleagues approached the House this morning, I congratulate them for slowly coming in to give him back-up, support and solace," he smirked, laying it on thickly when he said the Minister had the opportunity "to make a huge name for himself as he has the place to himself this morning".
In fairness, Micheál didn't blink, just looked at him, waiting patiently for the question that was in there somewhere.
The only argy-bargy came after Labour's Joan Burton asked about legislation to regulate property management companies.
When Martin started replying, Labour's Emmet Stagg repeatedly intervened about how long it was taking.
The Minister finally asked: "Does Deputy Stagg want to hear my reply, or does he wish to continue heckling and interrupting, in which case he will not get a reply?" It didn't stop Stagg who opined that management companies "are like mushrooms, springing up all over the bloody country".
But the Minister, after more interruption, said finally: "I have made my point."
Very tánaiste-like.