Good morning.
Just ahead of the official arrival of the silly season, marked by the Dáil rising at the end of the week, Independent TDs and senators are already doing their best to ensure there is at least some political activity in the quiet months of July and August.
Following President Michael D Higgins’s formal declaration yesterday that he will nominate himself for a second term, the scramble to stand a competitor against him is under way.
The efforts by the Independents make our lead this morning, while Lorna Siggins reports from Higgins's announcement in Castlebar.
Analysis from yours truly is here. Our editorial welcomes the likelihood of an election, and Miriam Lord says Higgins's expected announcement was a "bolt of the bleedin' obvious".
Sinn Féin will decide whether to stand a candidate at its ardchomhairle this weekend, but the party seems certain to field its own challenger. The game to be played out between now and the end of September will determine if anyone else can contest the election.
Gerard Craughwell, who has long said he will challenge Higgins if nobody else does, is signed up to an effort co-ordinated by Roscommon TD Michael Fitzmaurice to effectively run something of a primary contest among aspiring Independent candidates.
Fitzmaurice believes there are only enough uncommitted TDs and senators in the Oireachtas to allow one candidate into the race.
The chat among TDs and senators around Leinster House is that Craughwell has little hope of securing the required 20 signatures, and that Pádraig Ó Céidigh and Joan Freeman, two other senators seeking a nomination, have been more effective in their quiet canvassing efforts.
To be fair, Craughwell has acknowledged his best chance lies in the council route, but even the task of getting the support of four councils is not an easy one, given the dominance of the main parties on local authorities.
Sean Gallagher, who came second to Michael D Higgins in 2011, is also up to mischief. He wrote to councils yesterday to ask that they facilitate the entry into the race of those who want to run, without saying he actually wants to do so himself.
Expect much more of this type of shape-throwing in the coming weeks, but no candidate has yet emerged who is likely to cause Higgins serious trouble.
Varadkar signals possible Brexit movement
Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil yesterday was dominated by the British cabinet agreeing a new Brexit policy at Chequers last week, and the subsequent political crisis that saw David Davis and Boris Johnson resign.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, in line with the general EU response, welcomed Theresa May's move - while still striking some notes of caution. But what was interesting about Varadkar's contribution was his hint the negotiations may now be entering a phase where the EU is ready to be flexible.
“If the United Kingdom is willing to modify and evolve some of its red lines, the European Union should be flexible also,” Varadkar said. “In the period ahead it is a space we can be in.”
However, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, again said there will be no compromise on the four freedoms of the single market: the freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and people. Ms May’s proposal effectively sees the UK remaining in the single market for goods only.
“They know the rules,” said Mr Barnier. “They know the indivisibility of the four freedoms.”
While there may be a mood to be flexible, it is hard as of now to see where that flexibility may be found.
Best reads
Patrick Freyne is on the trail of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they visit Dublin.
Simon Carswell reports that Harry praised the "unique" relationship between Britain and Ireland.
Suzanne Lynch says that Donald Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court may have saved his presidency.
Pat Leahy reports on the latest judicial appointments passed by Cabinet, as Shane Ross's Bill reforming the way judges are appointed continues its laborious passage through the Seanad.
And, approaching July 12th, Susan McKay says the annual celebrations highlight the North's uncertain future.
Playbook
Dáil
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe is up on oral questions.
Leaders’ Questions is at noon, followed by questions on promised legislation and Taoiseach’s questions.
Fianna Fáil has a PMB on the effect of Brexit on Irish ports.
The Companies (Statutory Audits) Bill 2017 is at report and final stages.
The Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill 2018 is at report and final stages.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill is back with amendments from the Seanad.
The Health (General Practitioner) Bill 2018 is at second and remaining stages.
Other Bills being taken in the final-week rush include the Children and Family Relationships Bill, the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and the Insurance Amendment Bill.
Seanad
The Upper House has a motion “regarding a Reasoned Opinion on a Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Streamlining Measures for Advancing the Realisation of the Trans-European Transport Network - without debate”. So there you are.
The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill resumes committee stage.
Committees
The Health Committee scrutinises EU legislative proposals and discusses hospital overcrowding with various industry groups.
Justice and Equality has a session on the Immigration Investor Programme with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.
Transport, Tourism and Sport has Shane Ross before it on air services agreements between the Egypt and the UAE.
Children and Youth Affairs is scrutinising EU proposals and resumes its session on childhood obesity.
The PAC unveils a periodic report, and the Business Committee releases a report on the cost of doing business.
Communication, Climate Action and the Environment also scrutinises EU proposals and then has a hearing on illegal dumping and environmental destruction.
Simon Harris and Jim Daly are at the future of health care committee.
Paschal Donohoe is before the budgetary oversight committee.
