After 15 minutes, they buzzed with talk of the night before

DÁIL EIREANN is well used to adopting a sombre tone when necessary.

And with the pale green cover of the Ferns report visible around the chamber it happened yesterday - but only for 15 minutes.

Raising the awful catalogue of unchecked abuse, the words of Enda Kenny were greeted by a house full of respectful deputies.

In the prevailing mood even a tired-looking Conor Lenihan knew not to open his mouth - or snore.

There was a distinctly funereal atmosphere to the blue-carpeted chamber for the opening exchanges.

No one fidgeted, whispered, nodded or said anything out of place as Bertie Ahern fielded questions on the need for other dioceses to be audited for abuse.

After 15 minutes of grief for the unfortunate children of Ferns, an almost audible sigh of relief went up as Pat Rabbitte stood up to ask Bertie about the crisis in Social Partnership.

As if a silent order to chat had been issued, deputies turned to their neighbours and within seconds the chamber was abuzz with talk of the night before.

The Bernards, Allen and Durkan, Enda Kenny and Richard Bruton, Micheál Martin and Willie O’Dea and many more began amiable conversations as half a dozen of the 51 present departed for the coffee dock. Everybody more or less ignored what the leaders were saying. It was great to see parliamentary democracy back in full flow.

For the record, the first to leave was John Deasy who had run out of post to read. Bertie ignored the incessant chatter and proceeded to emit reasonable-sounding waffle on the difficulties faced by Social Partnership.

On familiar ground, and not under fire for once, he relaxed, both hands in pocket saying he’d see what could be done.

For the first time in living memory, Trevor Sargent did not use his slot to raise concerns about the environmental plight of the GM endangered chick pea. Instead, he admirably came across as the most sincere of all speakers on Ferns when, visibly upset, he told of how “it makes my stomach turn”.

It’s just a pity no one was listening.