In the great film The Last Mitterrand the dying protagonist and president of France identifies indifference as the critical quality required for leadership. It’s the necessary detachment — especially from friends and former causes.

The opening salvo has been fired in the Fine Gael leadership battle after Leo Varadkar called for a TV debate and took a swipe at rival Simon Coveney about when the upcoming contest will begin, writes Juno McEnroe and Elaine Loughlin.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar’s plan to make GP visits free for under-6s by this summer is facing a major stumbling block after a leading GP group said it will oppose the “medical apartheid” move.