Dáil Sketch / Frank McNally: Séamus Brennan's first official question in his new Department concerned the foreign missions, and the fact that religious missionaries returning to Ireland are being deprived of pensions by changed rules on residency.
There was a certain poignancy in this. It's still only a week since the head of his own order, Brother Bertie, asked him to leave the developed world of transport, with its modern roads and sophisticated infrastructure, for the uncharted wilds of social welfare, from whose dense interior many a free-market enthusiast has not returned. Brother Séamus could be forgiven if he's still homesick.
His new environment features some scary wildlife (and that's just Michael Ring and Willie Penrose, the main Opposition spokesmen). But there were already signs yesterday that his reforming zeal has survived the trip. Not only did he announce an immediate review of the pension residency rule, he also announced one into the so-called "savage 16" cuts introduced by his predecessor and much complained-of ever since by the Opposition.
Taken aback, all Messrs Penrose and Ring could say was "Thank you". But whether the promised reviews are a ploy to win the trust of the natives, or a sign that the Minister is going native himself, remains to be seen.
Back in the old country, meanwhile, Brother Bertie was being assailed yet again about Father Séan.
If the 2007 general election revolves around the Taoiseach's historic talks with a clergyman, you can bet that Healy rather than Paisley will be the name on everyone's lips. Labour's latest excuse was figures showing that, instead of the promised 200,000 new medical cards, the Government has taken away 101,000 old ones. "How in the name of God" asked an unusually devout Pat Rabbitte, had Fianna Fáil found "the hard neck to bring your man down to Inchydoney?" In the ensuing row, the Taoiseach was supported by Brother Noel (his actual brother, that is). And their joint defence was that falling medical card numbers were a symptom of success.
"Obviously we had more medical cards when the country was on its bended knees," said the Taoiseach.
Now that Paisley has mellowed, there is no competition for the role of angriest man in Ireland. Joe Higgins has the rhetorical style of an Old Testament preacher, and tabling a question yesterday on the proposed management buy-out at Aer Lingus, great was his wrath. Demanding the sack for the airline's bosses, he could barely contain his outrage at their "stunning conflict of interest", their attempt to make an "obscene killing", and their defiance of "even the loosest norms of bourgeois ethics".
It was quite a question. And when the answer fell short, Mr Higgins warned the Taoiseach that he was not "Hanging with Hector" now - not that Mr Ahern needed reminding.
Only when the latter suggested that a management buy-out at Aer Lingus would not be acceptable to Government did Mr Higgins's savage indignation subside.