Biffo the beast finally rouses

LIKE a lion that has just feasted on an antelope, Brian Cowen cast a lazy eye across the sleepy savannah that was the Dáil chamber yesterday morning.

Recruited in to take Mary Harney's place for the Order of Business, Biffo was simply not in the mood for biffing anybody. His greatest effort during the 20 minutes or so of a wholly pedestrian slot was to find as comfortable a reclining position as he could on the benches.

For most of the time he remained more or less a spectator, looking benignly on as Pat Rabbitte and the the Labour front bench had their daily clash with Ceann Comhairle Ruairi O'Hanlon over whether or not their questions were in order.