LUCINDA CREIGHTON was in the Upper House on Thursday afternoon for statements and questions on Ireland’s forthcoming EU presidency. Among the Senators listening was the Minister of State’s husband, Paul Bradford.

The various speakers welcomed Lucinda to the house and made their observations about how Ireland might make the best out of the six month presidency, which begins in January.

Senator Bradford’s question brought the house down, along with a blush to the ministerial cheek.

“I obviously welcome the Minister of State,” he said to his wife.

“My question relates to the physical arrangements for the summits and other meetings...” Paul was asking about holding meetings around the country, so as many citizens as possible could engage with the events.

But that’s not how his guffawing colleagues saw it. Labour’s Denis Landy was very touched. “It’s most enjoyable to watch joyous flirtation in the chamber. Most of us are usually dull and argumentative but I congratulate the Minister of State and Senator Bradford. I welcome her to the House.” Mills and Boon wasn’t in it.

And it made a nice change from the smut in the Lower House earlier in the day, when an outbreak of double entendres from the Dún Laoghaire threesome of Eamon Gilmore, Richard Boyd Barrett and the Ceann Comhairle made Leaders’ Questions sound like an episode of Tallafornia. (Dáilafornia anyone? There’s a thought.) But back to “the physical arrangements” of the Creighton-Bradfords.

“Cost effectiveness must be our priority,” said Lucinda.

“The way to sell Europe to our citizens is not to bring convoys of black Mercedes limousines to Ashford Castle or Dromoland Castle or any other salubrious venue. We should be clear about this.”

So it’ll be a bus and Dublin Castle for Senator Bradford. He seemed happy enough. “We’ll arrange a pair for you whenever you need to get away,” Fianna Fáil’s Terry Leyden gallantly promised his Government colleague.