In truth, it all felt a little contrived and it probably was. It was more of an opportunity to signal a difference between the parties, rather than a genuine row. Recall that polling suggests the two will be facing off for middle-ground votes come next election, so establishing how they are different is key for both in the medium term.
Since then, however, the ill-feeling has festered. The concrete blocks levy was introduced by a Fine Gael minister and resisted most loudly by Fianna Fáil backbenchers. An eviction ban was hatched by Fianna Fáil, seemingly without much engagement across Government, and encouraged by the Taoiseach in Prague as the Tánaiste was simultaneously pouring tepid, if not cold, water on it in the Dáil.
It is early days on this, but fault lines are emerging. In a Coalition that decided early in its life that it would hang together even as it misfired, this matters. And it’s visible elsewhere: climate or squabbles over justice, with FF backbenchers clubbing together to take pot shots at Helen McEntee on law and order issues .
These are issues that could move from simmering to boiling point quite swiftly, with unpredictable consequences.
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