Irish Examiner view: New Government needs to up its game

It does not bode well that, just a fortnight in, the new Government appears to have lost contact with the people it serves and is unwilling to listen to those who elected it

Tánaiste Simon Harris and Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The new administration is less than two weeks old and already it would appear that it is relaxed, at best, about delivering on some of its election promises. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

There is a strong trend of thought in this country that our new administration has taken its eye off the ball on a number of critical issues in the infancy of its term. It is certainly correct to say that the spat over Dáil speaking rights has deflected the Government’s concentration from the matters it should be focused on.

The ongoing effort to restore electricity, water, phone connectivity, and internet signals to large swathes of rural Ireland in the wake of Storm Éowyn is as welcome as it is difficult, but still questions remain about the national preparedness for future climate hammer blows.