Justice matters dominate political agenda

Two justice matters are likely to dominate the political agenda today, but while one centres on detailed discussions of legal privilege and instruction, the other is very, very real.

Yesterday’s shooting in Dublin and the ongoing Kinahan-Hutch feud put into perspective the arguments that have been taking place since the O’Higgins report entered the public domain a number of weeks ago.

That debate - from the report's leaking through to its official release and aftermath - focused firstly on Alan Shatter, Maurice McCabe and Martin Callinan and then on current Garda Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan and what instructions she did or did not give her legal team during the commission of investigation.

O’Sullivan is expected by those in political circles to make a statement on the matter today, and the Dáil will also hear statements, but tackling gangland crime is now likely to come to the fore.

Conor Lally says the feud is more of one sided wipeout of the Hutches, and he reports in our lead story that gardaí fear up to 10 more lives are in danger.In the Independent, Paul Williams also says this "unequal gang war was always going to lead to bloodshed", while Tom Brady argues that the effect of cutbacks in recent years is now beginning to tell in the force.The Government is vulnerable on crime but has not yet paid a political price or come under sustained pressure on it, despite the frightening escalation of violence.

Frances Fitzgerald has made some announcements of additional resources, and the agreement between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael committed to bringing the numbers in the force up to 15,000.

However, there has been no bold movement aimed at tackling the problems taking hold in Dublin’s north inner city and elsewhere.

Given all that, Taoiseach Enda Kenny's choice of words in the Dáil yesterday was questionable, to say the least.

Kenny said there is a “vicious, murderous” dispute between two families, adding: “And I don’t think I can stop that.”

He later clarified that he was speaking for "myself, citizen" but that, as head of government, he would make resources available to An Garda Síochána.

What Kenny said makes sense up to a point - in that if people are hell-bent on murder they cannot be stopped - but it was not the right form of words, nor the correct moment. The Opposition pounced on him.

It is another example of Kenny using clumsy language, but it will not be seen like that in communities affected. The new Government is already facing charges of neglecting urban Ireland to focus on rural issues.

Its response to gangland crime needs to well judged and strong, in word - but more so in deed.

Future-proofing his minority

The Taoiseach has scheduled a series of face-to-face meetings with his Ministers in which he wants them to outline their priorities for the year ahead.

All very humdrum on the face of it, but it is understood the bilaterals are being organised with one eye on the Government's prospects for survival.

Kenny has asked Ministers to outline what they can achieve within the first year in office, with one Minister last night saying: “We have to do as much as we can in a limited amount of time. We have to set priorities.” Another said the shelf life of the administration is “anyone’s guess”.

There has been a change in mood about the Government’s prospects in some quarters in Fine Gael in recent weeks, largely because of the scrapes some Independents have found themselves in. Fianna Fáil, it is felt, will not be the problem.

The difficulties faced by the Independents are outlined by yours truly here; one who contacted an Opposition TD this week and asked him to lay off on the auld criticism for a while

The Sinn Féin PMB on water charges and Irish Water will be put to a vote tonight, and there will be much gnashing as John Halligan, Finian McGrath and others vote with their Government colleagues. It is something they will have to get used to.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet yesterday approved reforms to the budgetary process and the establishment of a new committee to work on a ten-year strategy for the health service.

The committee will be lucky if it reports back within ten years.