Irish Examiner view: Taoiseach tackles sensitive issues 

Taoiseach interviews

Mr Martin knows there are votes to be lost in the emotive subject of housing and few to be won in the complex matter of gender identity.

The Taoiseach’s round of interviews with the political correspondents for publication over the Twixmas period interrogated two highly sensitive issues with the potential for argument and division well into 2022 and beyond.

At least one of them will be a defining topic for the next general election campaign — and there is a sense that the positioning for this has started already — while the other has the potential for strong inter-generation conflict.