Miriam Lord: Light mood brings good tidings between old foes

The Taoiseach and the leader of the Opposition chatted to each other beside the Christmas tree. No hurry on either of them to get away.

Or so it seemed.

The photographers crept closer, treading carefully, as if afraid a twig might snap underfoot and spook their jittery prey.

But Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin knew exactly what was going on, and they had no intention of bolting.

They kept on talking and the photographers kept snapping.

The Fianna Fáil leader was more than happy to be pictured in the company of his Fine Gael counterpart at the official switch-on of the Leinster House Christmas tree lights last night.

As for Enda, he’s the type of fella who’d talk to anyone.

Micheál is still smarting over recent reports suggesting he isn’t entirely against going into coalition with Sinn Féin after next year’s election.

So he had no problem being seen with Enda yesterday. In fact, he positively welcomed it.

On the other hand, he steered well clear of Gerry Adams when the party leaders gathered with the Ceann Comhairle on Leinster lawn for the lighting ceremony. It was the Sinn Féin leader who caused the rumpus in the first place last week by pointedly declining to rule out going into partnership with Fianna Fáil.

“I have to do something to balance out last week’s story” sighed Micheál, plunging into the marquee after Enda to listen to the choir.

At this stage, they had been joined by the Tánaiste, looking very festive in her bright red Christmas coat. It was a relief when she rushed out just in time to witness the Ceann Comhairle push the button.

Seán Barrett had noticed her absence when welcoming the political dignitaries to this year’s event. “I think the Tánaiste is tied up in the chamber at the moment,” he said, much to the amusement of everyone. But Joan slipped her bonds and made it out for the group photo, forcing Micheál to give way.

It was a lovely event, and for a little while at least, the main participants could forget about the serious business of pre-election Dáil politics.

Leaders’ Questions was mainly preoccupied with alleged corruption in the planning process and how to combat serious flooding. In a happy confluence, discussion of the weekend’s floods led onto discussion of the Flood Tribunal and its consequences.

With the election a matter of weeks away, the Government intends to move fast to help people affected by this most recent emergency. The Taoiseach said that €5 million had been allocated for small businesses which could not take out insurance and had been flooded again.

He told Micheál Martin that a €10 million emergency fund for householders was in place and officials from the Department of Social Protection were already calling to homes to offer assistance.

The Fianna Fáil leader was very concerned about Bandon “in Cork” and The Taoiseach had a lot to say about Mayo.

The Taoiseach sounded like a refugee from the Met Office.

“Rainfall for November exceeded 50 per cent above average and many rivers were at bank level before the recent heavy rain” he informed the House. “November was a wet month in many areas, the ground was exceptionally saturated ... further episodes of wind and rain are forecast and there may well be further instances and episodes of flooding.”

‘Outright corruption’

We were disappointed when he didn’t finish up with a breezy “goodnight” and a wink.

Gerry Adams, meanwhile, wanted to talk about the RTÉ Prime Time programme on alleged corruption at council level. Or "outright corruption" as Adams put it.

Enda was unequivocal on the issue: “There can be no place in public life for this kind of behaviour.”

Then he pointed the Sinn Féin leader in the direction of the BBC Spotlight programme which aired last year which highlighted astonishingly brazen expenses "arrangements" among certain members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Meanwhile, the children from the Holy Family Primary School in Derry, winners of the 2014 Barnardo’s youth choir of the year competition in London, were getting ready to sing their hearts out under the Christmas tree. The crowd in Leinster House was charmed.

“I wish you all a very very happy Christmas and above all a very prosperous, healthy and successful New Year,” said the Ceann Comhairle, at what is likely to be his last switching-on ceremony. “At least I’m good at something, at switching on lights,” he said ruefully, having come from throwing Peter Mathews out of the Dáil for yet again refusing to recognise the Chair.

Peter, meanwhile, was in the back row of the Oireachtas choir, belting out carols.

Enda, as usual, joined the choir for a few songs. Micheál watched from the sidelines. Enda beckoned him in. Micheál, stayed put.

“I’ll play hard to get,” he chuckled.