Leo's floral tribute to Mary Lou not a sign of coalition cosying

Niceties came to an abrupt halt with the Sinn Féin leader criticising the Government response to the housing crisis, likely to be a key focus of attack as election campaigning intensifies

Mary Lou McDonald said well-wishes came from across the political divide after her hysterectomy. Picture: Gareth Chaney

It may have been bunches of flowers over the summer, but relations between the political parties are now getting thorny, with politicians very firmly on an election footing.

Back from leave after undergoing major surgery, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald made it clear that she has fully recovered and is now focused on preparing her party for government.

Sinn Féin will demand the housing portfolio in any future coalition, she said, as the party gathered for its think-in in Dublin.

In Limerick, at his own party's gathering, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was also readying the troops — which some noticed had not all turned up for the two-day event — by announcing a number of appointments.

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has been selected as the party’s national director of elections for the general election and the Seanad election, while Trade Minister Simon Coveney will act as director for the European elections.

Ms McDonald said that “for the very most part across politics” people had been very decent to her, with well-wishes received from across the political divide following her hysterectomy.

As a matter of fact, the Taoiseach sent me flowers, which I thought was very nice.

However, the niceties came to an abrupt halt, with the Sinn Féin leader saying she is pleased to be "back in the fray” and criticising the Government’s response to the housing crisis, which is likely to be a key focus of attack as election campaigning intensifies.

Leo Varadkar made it clear that the floral offering is 'definitely not' a sign that Fine Gael is opening the door to a coalition with Sinn Féin. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

News of the flowers instantly travelled as far as Limerick, where Mr Varadkar made it clear that the floral offering is "definitely not" a sign that Fine Gael is now opening the door to a coalition with Sinn Féin.

"Look, Mary Lou McDonald is somebody I've known down the years. We used to live only a stone's throw from each other in Castleknock 20 years ago. So it was just a personal gesture," he told reporters as he ruled out any consideration of a post-election deal.

In a move likely to anger his current coalition partners, Mr Varadkar also intervened in a dispute between farmers and the Government over the recent announcement by the European Commission to cut Ireland’s nitrates derogation.

He told farmers he will write to EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkeviciu, inviting him to Ireland.

The move came just hours after Fianna Fáil Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said he will not be going back to Brussels to reopen discussions on the nitrates limits cut.