It's not often that a politician decides to play coy, certainly not when in full flow, but Cork East Fianna Fáil TD Ned O'Keeffe yesterday managed the considerable feat of stopping himself while launching a tirade against Dairygold to go all quiet on why he failed to turn up for two Dáil votes.
He gave an early indication of his attitude within seconds of arriving for a protest outside the gates of the closing Galtee Meats plant in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, when he was accosted by reporters and repeatedly asked about his failure to show up for the vote of confidence in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
"I am not answering any questions, I don't have to answer any questions," repeated Mr O'Keeffe defiantly before hurrying away from the small group of reporters to join the group of former workers and pig producers outside the factory gates.
"And stop intimidating me," he volleyed as he left.
Questions about the closure of the Galtee Meats plant prompted an eloquent fusillade from the former minister of state for agriculture aimed at Dairygold chief executive Jerry Henchy and how he "has wrecked Dairygold and turned Mitchelstown into a ghost town". As Mr O'Keeffe warmed to his theme, it was time to try a more subtle and oblique approach.
Had the Government failed Mitchelstown and Dairygold?
Mr O'Keeffe's eyes narrowed, anticipating what was coming next - was that why he had failed to turn up to support Mr Ahern in the Dáil vote? "The vote is not an issue here today nor anything to do with the Fianna Fáil party. "I'm here today to support the workers of Mitchelstown and the farmers of Mitchelstown, end of story," he said with a certain steeliness.
And no amount of questioning would budge him. Suggestions that he was bitter over once being dropped by Mr Ahern from a ministry, that he had failed to represent his constituents by not voting, not even the description that he was "a semi-detached TD" would move him.
"I have no more to say, I have no more to say, I have nothing more to say.
"Contrary to what is being said, the people of East Cork will continue to vote me into this position. I have nothing more to say.
"You can keep asking questions all day. I have no answers."
