Rocco Bertie and Jay Nick doing well, says father

The twin sons of Nicky Byrne of Westlife and Georgina Ahern, daughter of the Taoiseach, have been given middle names after their grandfathers.

Rocco and Jay, who were born by Caesarean section at 9.55am last Friday, are to be called Rocco Bertie and Jay Nick after Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and cabaret performer Nick Byrne.

The President and Dr Martin McAleese have sent flowers and good wishes to the family at Holles Street hospital.

On the RTÉ radio programme Livelineyesterday, the children's father told Joe Duffy: "It is nice to incorporate - they are not double-barrelled names, they are just the middle names we have given them."

Asked if the Taoiseach would babysit the boys, Byrne said: "I'm sure he will, I'm sure he will. He's well capable. He did it when Georgina and Cecilia were babies, he probably hasn't babysat or changed a nappy in quite a while. I'm sure he is busy with the general election."

Byrne said the couple had been overwhelmed by the amount of good wishes and gifts, particularly those from the President and her husband.

He said his wife was recovering well. "She's great, she's absolutely fantastic." He added that the babies, who were two months premature, were now breathing for themselves.

"We are walking up and down to see the little lads and starting to hold them and bond."