Both the yes and no sides are clearly getting a bit hot under the collar

The heat was getting to nearly everyone in and around Leinster House as the yes and no sides battled for control with just a few days left before voters go to the polls.

Both sides accuse each other of lying. Both are hunting for votes.

Dublin’s Mansion House was taken over by a coalition of “women for yes” in the morning sunshine. The only “oh no” heard was when Senator Mary White slipped on the steps outside during a photocall. The Fianna Fáil lady was cordially helped back on her feet by Labour and Fine Gael colleagues. What bonding.

Further up town, the world and its mother was waiting for Enda Kenny on the red carpet outside the Shelbourne Hotel. It was like waiting for an Oscar nominee as more than 20 journalists awaited the Taoiseach.

Mr Kenny may have been miffed by comments from Gerry Adams earlier in the day when the Sinn Féin leader claimed the Taoiseach was not up to the job of arguing Ireland’s case at this week’s EU summit in Brussels. Our Eurovision song contest duo could go instead, joked Mr Adams.

“Could I ask you to step aside from the summit because you’re clearly out of your depth? Why don’t you send Jedward to represent us? They, at least, might stand up for Ireland’s interests.”

The Taoiseach can at least take solace in knowing that US president Barack Obama’s distant cousin has decided to throw his weight behind the yes campaign.

Moneygall’s Henry Healy backed a yes vote yesterday, a year on since Obama visited the midlands village.

Meanwhile, Michael Noonan, the finance minister, can thank his lucky stars that his holiday time has been arranged for him this summer. The no side kindly bought him a plane ticket so he could see what was actually happening in Greece. They said he had “no idea what he’s taking about” when making glib comments about feta cheese and Ireland’s links with Greece.

Anti-treaty group Libertas also unveiled a poster with Mr Noonan holding up the “two fingers” with a Greek flag behind him. You get the feeling the minister won’t be boarding that plane for a while.

Back in the Dáil, Mr Noonan had no qualms about beating down the no side in the chambers. He accused a shocked Socialist TD Joe Higgins of using his socialist campaigners to bully the Taoiseach on his walkabouts during the campaign.

“And you should exercise some influence, if you have it, over your supporters and stop this harassment of the Taoiseach,” snapped Mr Noonan to a gobsmacked Joe Higgins.

Both sides are clearly getting a bit hot under the collar.