The poor Brians had to pull an all-nighter. Let's generously compensate them somehow.

In all the coverage of the Irish government's plan to underwrite the deposits of the six main Irish banks, did you notice how many reports referred, almost heroically and reverentially, to the fact that the Taoiseach and Finance Minister had to work all through the night to secure the deal, and how exhausted they must have been the next day? 

So what? When was the last time (if ever) they had to work this hard on anything on our behalf - other than their own re-election, of course? 

But maybe I'm being churlish. As a reward for their diligence, I think we should pay them a six figure salary that's anything between 7 and 10 times the average industrial wage, as well as give them generous expense claims, massive pension entitlements, and the equivalent of six months off a year, including lengthy breaks during the summer and at Christmas to recuperate. 

Oh wait...