THERE was a good turn-out at the Department of Enterprise and Employment last week to bid farewell to departing secretary, Kevin Bonner. All his former ministers showed up, including Bertie Ahern, Brian Cowen, Ruairi Quinn and Michael O'Leary of the multiplicity of parties" as the current Minister Richard Bruton noted. Also present were the chief executives of the state agencies under the Department's aegis and former Department of Labour secretary, Michael Keegan, who Bonner succeeded.

The Margin's source says that many of the assembled throng repaired to some well-known local hostelries where a long night ensued.