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.

“Well spotted,” he said to the happy snappers having turned to catch a glimpse of Sinn Féin’s Arthur Morgan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Pearse Doherty and Aengus Ó Snodaigh standing in his foreground.

“You earned your money there,” he added, before turning toward the four patient men. One by one he shook their hands.

“That’s the photograph of all time,” said Mr Ó Caoláin who steadfastly held onto the hand of Senator Harris and locked eyes with all the camera lenses.

Afterwards, the strategic handshake was explained.

“I must have been one of the last people in Ireland to shake hands with Sinn Féin. I didn’t even like sharing public platforms with them,” he said. “I just always wanted to make it clear to them my extreme disagreement with them and I didn’t like this palsy-walsy false air-kissing that went on with them until they signed up.”

Inside the Seanad, the mood of peace continued apace. Fianna Fáil’s nomination for the position of cathaoirleach was supported by all the parties and no election ensued.

With Fianna Fáil agreeing Seanad reform was necessary, the dissenting voices were silenced.

Even conservative Ronan Mullen and liberal Ivana Bacik were kept muted by Feargal Quinn who sat between them. It was left to David Norris to break the cosy political love-in.

“I propose we actually do something,” he said. Some 43 senators had been elected with less than 100 votes, he bellowed.

But alas, with laughter following, peace was restored and the fractious war of words between Seanad reformists and reform resistors will have to wait another day.