The Cabinet will meet on Monday, for the first time since before Christmas. Apart from the teachers, BSE and the Liam Lawlor issue, which Bertie Ahern maintains is now very little to do with him at all, there is not much else to worry ministers. The North is always with us, but Tuesday's meeting of the British Irish Council (BIC) at Dublin Castle and the possibility of a bilateral between the Taoiseach and Tony Blair means discussion on Monday will be limited.
What could arise, although no one is saying it will, is the possibility of moving Ned O'Keeffe from the Department of Agriculture and Food. A shift around of junior ministers is considered unlikely in view of the Taoiseach's reluctance to offend anyone and speculation centres on a straight swap of portfolios between O'Keeffe and Hugh Byrne, at the Department of the Marine. So O'Keeffe could be in charge of fish instead of meat.
After Cabinet, on Monday night, ministers and partners go to the Aras, where the President, Mrs McAleese, is hosting her annual dinner for the Government. She has recently returned from skiing in Italy with family and friends.
Tuesday's BIC, (the east-west body, aka the Council of the Isles) will be attended by Blair, Peter Mandelson, David Trimble, Seamus Mallon and first ministers of Scotland, Henry McLeish; of Wales, Rhodri Morgan; of the Isle of Man, Donald Gelling; of Jersey, Pierre Horsfall; and of Guernsey, Laurie Morgan. While the chief item on the agenda will again be mundane enough - co-operation on drugs - the council, which was set up under the Belfast Agreement, is viewed as a highly important element in the development of peace and friendship on these islands. Its terms of reference say "it will exchange information, discuss, consult and use best endeavours to reach agreement on co-operation of matters of mutual interest". This is its second meeting, postponed from October because of the funeral of Scottish leader Donald Dewar.