Talk of revenge after acrimonious week for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael

RTÉ News​

12 hours ago

There are a few politicians in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael who will spend this weekend contemplating revenge, maybe even plotting it.
It is not a huge cohort, but there are enough there to make up a quorum of motivated individuals eager to maintain the internecine warfare of recent days.
It all stems form the shockwaves generated by James Lawless' logical but politically unwise answer on RTÉ's This Week programme, that as things stand student fees could rise by €1,000 this year.
Although the worried public outbursts from Fine Gael have ceased, the party remains steadfast in its view that Mr Lawless needlessly wounded the entire Government.
One senior figure summed up the week saying, "we have many issues where we will lose support or struggle politically but this one could have been avoided."
There is a feeling in the party too, as constituency office calls and emails are "off the charts," that it could be difficult to hold the line until October's Budget.
Already there are broad hints that the final figure for student fees will be below €3,000 and the Budget reductions will this time be permanent
Fianna Fáil believes it was Simon Harris' intervention that "escalated" the entire episode into a full-blown crisis which dominated Dáil debate for three days.
The party's weekly meeting in Leinster House saw several TDs lash out at what was described as "media posturing" by Fine Gael.
Those close to Simon Harris contend that he was merely trying to bring clarity to matters given his intricate knowledge of the topic as a former higher education minister himself.
That defence drew nothing but guffaws from both Fianna Fáil ministers and TDs.
"He's good like that isn't he," one scathingly said.
Then there are those who are intent on settling scores.
Battle plans from some foot soldiers have identified Minister of Agriculture Martin Heydon's efforts to retain the Nitrates derogation, as a possible point of attack.
The Fine Gael tactics board has zoned in on Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan's upcoming decision on whether to accept the Judicial Council guidelines proposing an increase in personal injury awards, against the backdrop of rising insurance costs.
Throughout the week, Independent ministers like Kevin 'Boxer' Moran have urged both parties to talk to each other more, and to be mindful of the financial strain many households are experiencing.
Further up the chain the sores are felt less intensely though and there is a general view that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ministers are generally working well together.
Reports of friction 'overstated' - minister
Reports of deep friction and lasting damage to the Government's cohesiveness were "a bit overstated" according to one influential Cabinet minister.
The switching of portfolios after the general election is even said to have boosted a sense of mutual respect with ministers possessing a greater understanding of their colleagues' workload.
There is a view in the higher echelons of Government that in the context of the many challenges it faces, this week amounted to little more than a "bit of pushing and shoving" or good old fashioned "ground hurling".
The true measure of the coalition's sense of unity will be the Budget negotiations.
These will be framed against the worrying reality that the economic good times are most likely drawing to a close.
That means caution will be the guiding principle in the months ahead for the Fine Gael's Minister for Finance and Fianna Fáil's Minister for Public Expenditure.
Both Jack Chambers and Paschal Donohoe are said to be of a similar mind about the approach required, and their working relationship is described as close.
It is that key axis and how it navigates a Budget amid growing uncertainty, and without the option of a cost-of-living package, which will ultimately reveal if the coalition can function collectively.