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Everyone’s talking about…
Many government figures have privately expressed satisfaction at the way in which things have been so quiet on the political front in the first four months of this year. Just cast your minds back to this time last year when Irish Water, justice issues, pylons and medical cards were all hugely damaging to Fine Gael and Labour’s fortunes. The polls indicate a corner was turned at the beginning of this year.
But now the Siteserv controversy threatens to undermine that progress. It’s complex, it’s still unravelling and there’s a bit more to be revealed in the coming days.
But you could sense the wobbles in government yesterday. Enda Kenny put in a less than assured performance at Leaders’ Questions. Then Michael Noonan, the government’s Yoda-like calming influence, had to go on the Six One News to explain things. A sure sign that all is not well.
Most people will not spend too much time trying to understand the detail of this complex controversy, but as long as it carries a whiff of rottenness it remains potentially damaging to the government which, up until now, had been having a good 2015.
The agenda
What the others are saying
Inside Leinster House
Does this picture, from inside the Dáil chamber, break Oireachtas rules?
We checked yesterday and were told by Leinster House authorities that while there is no specific rule against taking photographs in the chamber “it wouldn’t be considered best practice”.
In case you missed it
https://vine.co/v/eadEI5EtVgm
On the Twitter machine
What’s happened here, Frances?
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