Cabinet meeting set to focus on Coalition unity

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste last night scrambled to try and reassert an air of coalition cohesion after days of disunity triggered by swingeing health cut proposals.

The first Cabinet meeting for six weeks is today expected to stand over those cuts — and concentrate on resolving deep tensions after a string of major communication failures.

Having cleared the agenda of many items, Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore are expected to stress the need for a united front — after bitter public in-fighting between the two parties — ahead of a turbulent autumn leading up to December’s €3.6bn round of tax hikes and spending cuts.