"I never thought I'd see a bill like this before us, but we know it must be passed," said Senator James Reilly. .

“She’s 100% committed. He’ll just have to target someone else.” It may still officially be a polite, cordial oh-so-Fine Gael leadership race, but there is no mistaking the fact the gloves are slowly coming off in the fight to become taoiseach.

Enda Kenny’s detractors are standing down for the moment but as sure as day follows night, as one TD said, they will be back seeking regime change in Fine Gael when the next chance presents itself, writes Juno McEnroe