History made on the first day of business

WITH the eyes of history upon them, the peace process entered yet another historic phase.

Yesterday, with Sinn Féin primed to conduct a relay of media interviews on the plinth of Leinster House, its team of four begun a slow steady march from the Dáil toward the photographers.

They were left idly standing when the man famed for his anti-Sinn Féin sentiments arrived for his Seanad debut as one the Taoiseach’s 11 appointments and became encircled by delirious photographers sensing a scoop.