Irish Examiner view: Are lines being drawn in the sand?

All eyes are on the reshuffle next month after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar steps up into Micheál Martin's role as Taoiseach

It is unsurprising that there are tensions among the three Coalition party leaders, Eamon Ryan, Leo Varadkar, and Micheál Martin. But there will be particularly keen interest in the reshuffle following Mr Varadkar's assuming Mr Martin's current role as Taoiseach. File picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews

It might be a movable feast rather than an immutable fixture in the calendar but tensions among coalition partners are
reliable and regular occurrences in modern Irish administrations.

Consequently, Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s comments on Fine Gael and Green Party attacks on his ministers can hardly be described as surprising, particularly with a significant date on the horizon — his scheduled departure as Taoiseach in December, with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar due to switch in and replace him.