Cowen forced into doing the two-step

THE motorcade was impressive. The army officer with the white gloves did a salute as the French president emerged from his car.

The Taoiseach was in the perfect place: top of the steps, to one side of the door frame. If he’d had the arrogance to stay put, Sarkozy would have had to ascend the steps and be swept to the Taoiseach’s left.

That would have framed the two of them neatly between the great pale stone pillars and allowed Brian Cowen to do a sustained handshake with his arm across his body: the power handshake all strong leaders, from Blair to Clinton, organise for themselves.