New printing press is on a roll as Harney pushes all the right buttons

Mary Harney looked a little nervous as she stood before the operating console of the new Irish Times printing press, and not without reason.

In keeping with the clean, minimalist approach of the plant designers, the keyboard in front of her was almost completely devoid of helpful instructions - for example, the words "start" and "stop".

But her finger was guided carefully through the four-part sequence by press and production manager Freddie Snowe. And, as the machinery began to roll, the Tánaiste could reflect that, in a repeat of her surprise general election triumph, she had again somehow pushed all the right buttons.

The new printing plant in action is an impressive sight, albeit a very different one from the technology it replaces. Even with the machines operating, the Citywest facility looks and feels more like a new hospital or a modern art museum than a printing plant.

Full of light and air, and almost antiseptically clean, the only quality it shares with the presses of old is noise, and even that is noticeably lower now. Veteran printers must find such a pleasant working environment very stressful.

It was an event which can only have added to the Tánaiste's stated admiration for the media. In her speech before the opening ceremony, she approved Thomas Jefferson's preference, if forced to a choice, for newspapers over government. She also quoted a more recent US statesman, Tipp O'Neill, who said that "all politics is local".

Whatever about politics, the Tánaiste quipped, daily newspaper production in Ireland was becoming increasingly local, at least for her, with the two Dublin-based morning broadsheets now printed in her constituency.

She regretted that the new neighbours had not been noticeably friendly so far, but she hadn't given up hope.

Pointing out that yesterday had been designated by someone or other as "International Flirting Day", she added: "I'm flirting with The Irish Times."

But The Irish Times may have been guilty of leading her on a bit yesterday, when a photograph of her arrival for the event appeared in pristine colour in the supplement she printed, barely an hour later.

Guests at yesterday's opening joined Ms Harney in touring the new facility, greeted by Irish Times managing director Ms Maeve Donovan; deputy managing director Mr Michael Austen; and director of technology and resources, Mr Seamus McCague, who led the Citywest project team.

Those touring the plant included the editor of The Irish Times, Mr Conor Brady; the chairman of Irish Times Ltd, Mr Brian Patterson; and the chairman of the Irish Times Trust, Mr David McConnell. Irish Times directors Mr Alex Burns, Mr Greg Sparks and Ms Karen Erwin also attended the event, as did Irish Times Trust member Mr Noel Dorr; executive editor Mr Pat O'Hara and managing editor Mr Eoin McVey.

Guests also included estate agents Mr Mark FitzGerald, of Sherry FitzGerald; Mr Peter Brown, of Lisney; and Ms Daphne Kaye, of Daphne L. Kaye Associates. Representatives of the advertising sector included Mr Jarlath Johns, managing director of McConnells, and Mr Shane McGonigal, of Leo Burnett.