The cowardly, dictatorial leader who failed to lead

It was a move aimed at boosting his leadership credentials in opposition, and it has ultimately undermined his leadership credibility in Government.

The Taoiseach was right to describe the defeat of his proposal to abolish the Seanad in a referendum as a “wallop”. While he might be able to stumble back onto his own two feet for now, this is a blow that has the potential to unsteady him for the rest of his time in office.

For Enda Kenny, there is no hiding from the fact that this was his own personal proposition, announced as an edict to his Fine Gael party, but one on which he failed to show leadership when it really counted.