They’ll share a pot of tea on Sunday night, eat dinner together most evenings and hop into the car every Tuesday and Friday to complete the 130km round spin to training. Rarely though, if ever, is football discussed.

The NTMA raised €7.5bn last year and invested €1.3bn in the economy through the National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF), according to its end-of-year statement.

A division of Bord Gáis has been sold for €1.12bn about two weeks after the Government gave up the hunt for a buyer.