I was hanging around the IFA budget lobbying session in Dublin on Tuesday. There was the usual mix of big names and bigger voices from the political world in to see what the farmers want from the budget and how the politicos can influence Michael Noonan between now and 13 October.

Near the end of the session, Cork South Central Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer arrived in and made a beeline for the Cork table only to see his constituency colleague and Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin already in deep conversation with the Cork contingent.

Buttimer looked sheepish, turned on his heels and said: “I’d better go get a biscuit and a coffee.”

Buttimer and Martin are in a fiercely competitive constituency.

There are five sitting TDs – Messers Buttimer, Martin, Coveney, McGrath and Lynch – and the number of seats has been reduced to four for the next election.

Speaking of which, two Government TDs told me to expect the country to go to the polls before the end of year.