As Donohoe outlined the capital spending of his Government, the Sinn Féin finance spokesman told him he had “forgot the bike shed”. 

It would not be the only time when Doherty’s contribution lit the blue touchpaper. As he rose to his feet after 90 minutes of Government speeches, the Donegal man took aim at the Government not for the budget but for its record.

“This Government has been exposed over and again as serial wasters,” he railed.

It was an interesting strategy. While the budget contained a number of things that one could criticise, there was no open goal for the opposition that would readily resonate with broad swathes of the public, like a cut to social protection or the imposition of a new tax. But people understand the bike shed. And Sinn Féin used the reference a number of times to hammer home its point that, really, it doesn’t matter how much money you give this Government, the results aren’t coming. 

Doherty called Taoiseach Simon Harris “Mr Soundbite”, needling the Wicklow man on scoliosis and the National Children’s Hospital.

The Government benches, which had thinned following the speeches but retained the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and the money ministers, were noticeably combative during Doherty’s contribution,
tutting and disagreeing openly with Sinn Féin’s critiques and pledges. But it was a mention of childcare which saw the Taoiseach at his most vociferous.

“I would not mention child welfare,” he said, prompting no real reaction, but as Doherty continued to discuss childcare costs, Harris returned. “How is your press office? When did you know, Pearse?” he asked according to the Dáil transcripts.

“Do not bring up children in here today,” he added, all apparent references to a case involving two Sinn Féin press officers who quit after providing references for a former colleague who was later convicted of sex offences. Seán Mag Uidhir, who has worked for the party for many years, and Caolán McGinley  quit their positions as Sinn Féin launched an “internal process”into the matter, which has not concluded.

Both men had provided references for former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle for a job at a charity. Last week, McMonagle, aged 42, from Limewood St, Derry, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and 12 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child on dates between 2020 and 2021. He is due to be sentenced in November.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin would row in, saying the Coalition parties had “never kneecapped children anyway”.

For a Government bench which minutes earlier demanded that Doherty focus on the budget as presented, it was unedifying, particularly given that many of Doherty’s blows can and will be parried in the debates that ensue on the budget’s substance.

The flashpoint came after Chambers, just 33, had delivered a maiden budget that took on the tenor of attempting to persuade the public that despite his years, he was the calm, responsible adult in the room. 

He told the Dáil that his Government would eschew an easy win and not look at the €24bn surplus as burning a hole in the collective pocket of the Government. 

The subtext was clear: While the spending is massive, this is not 2007.

“[The] future is not just about next month, next year, or the next decade, it is about ensuring that the children born today in Ireland and every day from here on can live prosperous and fulfilled lives.

“This budget is about the future. 

It reflects a commitment and resolve to responsible politics, economic resilience, and a fairer society ensuring that together we can build a prosperous future imbued with optimism and hope.

Chambers and Donohoe eschewed previous years’ displays of Coalition co-operation and each wore ties of their respective party colours (the finance minister disappointing those who had punted on him at 25/1 to wear a cravat), but appeared in lockstep throughout the day.

At the evening press conference, Donohoe was effusive in praise of his counterpart, saying the Dublin West TD was “not phased” by any of the scale of the challenge.

But when Fianna Fáil TDs led by Seán Fleming gave Chambers a standing ovation, the Fine Gael end of the Coalition was noticeably slower to join than Fianna Fáilers were when Donohoe spoke.

It was a reminder of something hanging over Leinster House all day — there is an election looming. 

While everyone officially says that the Government is going the distance, many believe it will come in November.

Having launched billions at the country, Chambers and Donohoe will hope it is their speeches from yesterday that live in the memory and nothing like the bike shed.