Calamity coalition: There's calm behind the scenes of outward chaos but tensions are rising

Philip Ryan

Green leader Eamon Ryan, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Photo: Julien Behal/PA Wire

July 31 2020 02:30 AM

It's not that they're all not getting along. Most politicians involved in the calamity Coalition will tell you they are all getting on famously despite all the preconceived differences they might have.

The three party leaders are believed to have bonded over the formulation of the July jobs stimulus package and their advisers are happy about how the mini-budget plan worked out, as well as plenty of decent news coverage and collegiality over what decisions should be taken.

However, on the Fine Gael side there were some misgivings about Green Party leader Eamon Ryan who they complained was not over the detail and was more ideological than practical.

One Fine Gael figure referenced the old Henry Kissinger comment: "Who do you talk to when you want to talk to the Greens?"

They wonder whether Ryan still has the authority to direct his party after his narrow victory over his deputy leader Catherine Martin. When Ryan agrees to something, they worry the rest of his party may not sign up to the policy measure and a rethink will be needed.

Even in the Greens, senior party figures concede Ryan can be hard to nail down when it comes to decision making.

"Eamon might initially say yes to something but he has a tendency to then go off and think about it and might come back with a different view," a source said. "They just need to get used to the way he operates," the source added.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath have told colleagues they found it difficult dealing with Ryan while drafting the plan to kickstart the economy. Consequently, sources in Government praised Catherine Martin's contribution during the talks on the package.

But it is wrong to say all the communication problems should be laid at the door of the Green Party. Most, if not all of the ministers around the Cabinet table are not in the job for the money (although question marks do hang over some).

However, they have given the impression of being tone-deaf to the plight of the many thousands of people still unemployed due to the introduction of social-distancing restrictions, introduced to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The super junior minister allowance was an unnecessary own goal at time when they were announcing massive cuts to welfare benefits for people who lost their jobs due to Covid-19 rules. The bungled attempt to give themselves pay cuts that weren't pay cuts was also a distraction they could have done without. But some at Cabinet feel aggrieved they don't get any credit for cuts they have already taken.

"Obviously we've made a hames of handling the minister's pay and allowance thing but are we not wrong to feel a bit aggrieved?" a source asked.

"Jacinda Arden (New Zealand's prime minister) gave back 20pc for six months and is lauded internationally, and we gave back money for years and we're castigated," the source said.

But timing is everything and the Government was very much bounced into taking the pay cut, which Micheál Martin claimed they agreed to take weeks earlier.

Let's take his word for it. As we know, even if they did decide to reduce their salaries, it was still going to be more than the last government's pay packet. So, again, another unforced error.

There are complaints that Cabinet is quite stilted and ministers don't feel they can intervene or raise objections because it is presumed the three leaders have signed off on policies beforehand.

The three leaders get on fine but don't seem to be across everything, or at least give the impression they are not.

The spin war over the U-turn on the pandemic unemployment payment has not sat well with any side of the Government. Senior Fine Gael figures were unhappy that Fianna Fáil was seeking to present it as a win for them and the feeling was mutual from Micheál Martin's party.

The reality was the three leaders took no decision on reversing the ban on foreign travel and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphrey was asked by Mr Martin and Leo Varadkar to find a solution. Sources say no pressure was put on the minister and she made the decision to U-turn on the green list ban and then informed the two leaders.

Either way, it has caused some tensions after weeks of internal coalition calm despite outward chaos.

Ministers from all sides have fronted up in the media to defend colleagues they would have been hammering in interviews only weeks ago.

The leaders plan to thrash out better and more formal protocols for dealing with issues of controversy and their ministers will be crossing their fingers in the hopes it will work.