As a rule I sit in the back of taxis. In the past, to illustrate my commitment to equality and democracy, I would sit in the front. Back then I associated those who sat in the back with a sense of social superiority.

I was soon cured. Sitting in the back helps, but does not guarantee, that you may escape harangues on the ills of the world.

Should the taxi driver discover you work in media then may the Lord have mercy on your soul for, securely captive, you will be “waterboarded” with conspiracy theories and the inadequacies of your craft.

But recently I met a taxi man who made me want the journey to go on and on. He felt words of his may have caused our austerity.

It began one Saturday in 2010 when he saw a budgie on a road in west Dublin. The bird eluded him.

He followed it into the garden of a house but felt he should ring the bell in case the occupants, seeing him chase across their lawn, might be alarmed.

He heard footsteps coming down the stairs. The door was opened by the late minister for finance Brian Lenihan, in a dressing gown. "Go ahead," said the minister. He eventually caught the budgie, wrapping it in the sleeve of his jacket.

Mr Lenihan invited him to have tea. He then recognised the taxi man who, in a previous life, worked in a city hotel where politicians took a drink. They chatted, and even discussed the economy. Minister Lenihan asked: “What do you think?” and the taxi man said: “Ah, sure we’ll be alright.”

He wonders now whether that remark might have influenced the minister in bringing in his austerity programme.

He had so many stories about politicians in the hotel. Crashing the residents’ bar and a punch-up when one politician’s friend touched the bottom of a Scottish rugby supporter’s girlfriend.

Not, that Mr Lenihan ever indulged in such behaviour. “A true gentleman, always,” said the taxi man.

As for the budgie, he brought it home to his wife. She bought two more only for the original to fly away.

Taxi is short for taximetre cab, introduced to London in 1907. It comes from taximetre, meaning "automatic metre to record the distance and fare". From the French taximètre, itself from Latin taxa, "tax or charge".