Politics of power exposes old Fine Gael faultline

It took just a moment of inattention to rupture the Coalition’s inner circle,says Gerard Howlin

EVENTS have slipped the leash in Government and are proceeding at a far greater pace than those charged to manage them can keep up with. The immediate imperative for Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to secure, either voluntarily or by conscription, the discipline and adherence of his cabinet to an agreed line. That line, for now at least, includes continuing support for Alan Shatter as minister for justice.

Matters unravelled last week for the government in circumstances that undoubtedly contributed to events. Transport Minister Leo Varadkar, the originator of the latest episode in this controversy, was in Dublin. Mr Kenny was in Brussels. Mr Shatter was in Mexico.