Five short days that witnessed a shift in the wind

Fianna Fáil smelled blood after an uninspiring budget, but then Fine Gael got an unexpected boost after the Varadkar-Johnson Brexit summit, making the next election harder to call than ever. All in all, it was quite the week

British prime minister Boris Johnson walks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the grounds of Thornton Manor Hotel on Thursday before they made their surprise announcement Pic: Getty

It was a week that started with a budget peppered with references to preparations for a no-deal Brexit scenario. Tánaiste Simon Coveney described it as the “number one threat to the Irish economy, jobs and livelihoods”. And he was right, as the chart on this page shows.

Fast-forward to Thursday, however, and the mood suddenly changed after the meeting between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British prime minister Boris Johnson. While that news was ...