TDs are back after a ten-week Dáil summer break.
Normally at this time of year the political system would be consumed by the impending Budget, due to be delivered in three weeks' time.
And while TDs no doubt have their shopping lists ready it was the absence of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Green Party Leader and Minister for Health that preoccupied many of the members on their return.
The four are part of an Irish delegation at the United Nations in New York.
Independent TD Mattie McGrath, not generally known for understatement, described it as "shame" neither the Taoiseach or Tánaiste could attend on the first day of business after the summer.
Earlier, Minister for Media Catherine Martin described it as a matter of "unfortunate timing" that the three-party leaders are abroad but said it "shows the importance of the UN".
There were more vigorous calls from across the Opposition for Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to return to answer questions on the review of "spinal surgeries scandal". The minister has not made any public comments since a report was published by Children's Health Ireland on Monday.
Notwithstanding the "spinal surgeries scandal", the big political set piece of this Dáil term will be Budget 2024.
It is Minister Michael McGrath's first budget in the Finance brief having switched portfolio with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe last year.
Fianna Fáil has not held the finance brief since 2011 when Ireland was in the grip of swingeing austerity measures.
Mr McGrath will want to banish those ghosts and show that Fianna Fáil can be prudent with the country's coffers, but he will also be under pressure to alleviate cost of living pressures for families and workers.
He has already been out this week trying to manage expectations saying Government cannot do everything.
This Government term has to end by February 2025 at the latest, while there is a year or more to run, the election claxon has very firmly already sounded.
Canny ministers will be focused on deliverability in their individual departments, others will look at legacy and for some it will simply be a case of survival.
It is a mix that has the potential to test coalition cohesiveness.
At Leaders' Questions today, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns focused her questions on the nitrates directive saying the Taoiseach "contradicted" the agriculture minister, by "going over his head".
Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney insisted that he would not let Deputy Cairns "drive a wedge between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on this issue", prompting gales of laughter and derisory calls from the Opposition benches.
This is the real challenge of the coalition parties - holding the line on Government policy while simultaneously carving out their own niche in public discourse.
The new political term will be one to watch.
