In a first-floor meeting room, with the obligatory string quartet in the corner, two junior ministers held court to celebrate the merger of Limerick project managers Tom McNamara and Partners with British construction services group Erinaceous. Although the event underlined the contribution construction makes to the economy, it also raised the question as to whether Fianna F�il's potential Green partners would even feel comfortable at such a gathering.

Both the Minister for Labour Affairs, Tony Killeen, and the Minister for Trade and Commerce, Michael Ahern, attended the event, with Killeen stating in a speech that he was there because he knew Tom McNamara (and his cousin Bernard of McNamara Construction), and was confident he would make Erinaceous a success in Ireland due to his drive and determination.

"I believe that it will be hugely successful. They have the advantage of having the right model and the right time in the development of the Irish construction sector, " said Killeen, speaking to the Sunday Tribune the morning after the event.

He stressed that both he and Ahern attended the event in a personal capacity, although this was not apparent at the event.

Killeen repeated comments that he made in a speech at the event that government wanted to create a more balanced construction sector, which wasn't as reliant on housing as it currently is, and could include an increased role for public private partnerships (PPPs).

"One of the advantages of PPP is that, when properly operated, it can be a very convenient way to get public infrastructure built without drawing on government finance. It was interesting in the context of the people from Erinaceous there last night who have a huge degree of experience from the UK."

When asked how he felt the Greens would respond to the fact that two junior ministers were arguably engaging in Fianna F�il outreach work with developers while their more senior colleagues were trying to coax the party into government, Killeen said Erinaceous were not developers but construction service providers.

He conceded, however, that a significant portion of those at the launch listening to his speech and mingling with him and Ahern were developers.

Killeen said he didn't "think there was any suggestion that the government was reaching out to developers. The government should, however, take advantage of having a construction sector which is underutilised at a time of deficits in our infrastructure in health and education in particular".

What ever would the Greens have made of it all?