Politics

FF-FG war of words places coalition relations under most strain since entering office

Martin has said ‘counting to ten is very important’ when asked what is it like dealing with Leo Varadkar

Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: in the second half of this term with elections looming, old enmities are surfacing once more. Picture: PA

Not since the formation of this historic three-party government in 2020 have tensions between the old enemies in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil been so overtly on display.

The two parties, battered by their time in office and in decline in terms of public support, have spent the week sniping and bitching at each other, while Sinn Féin have sat back and let them at it.

Back in 2021, then Taoiseach Micheál Martin said “counting ...