Dáil pragmatism is in stark contrast to the lunacy seen in Westminster

SO THE phoney war is over and peace has broken out in Leinster House. The news that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have reached an agreement on the confidence and supply deal that is propping up Leo Varadkar’s Government is extremely welcome and provides a degree of certainty in what are profoundly worrying times for Ireland and Europe.

While Westminster continues its descent into utter farce, the most powerful politicians on Kildare Street have displayed great sense in agreeing the deal.

With the tremendous British folly of Brexit looming ever closer, the next few months are set to be dramatic and the last thing Ireland needed was any uncertainty about our Government and who will be negotiating on the country’s behalf.

Europe has been resolute in its support of Ireland and our Government’s conciliatory but resolute and unified stance has been in marked contrast to the shambolic approach of Theresa May’s warring Conservatives.

Whatever your opinion of Mr Varadkar and his Government’s domestic policies, their handling of the Brexit negotiations – if not the Brexit preparations – has been exemplary.

While never descending to the level of the frequently moronic Brexiteers – some of whose comments on Ireland beggar belief – the Government has remained dignified and authoritative in its approach to the UK and our allies in Europe.

Narrow political ambition and infighting – of the type that has torn the Tories apart and led to Brexit in the first place – so often trumps the good of the nation.

Mercifully, in this case, it seems for once that party politics have taken the back seat to dealing with what represents a game changing national emergency.

Fine Gael – who are reportedly giddy on the back of polls that would suggest a comfortable electoral win over the auld enemy in Fianna Fáil – have resisted the temptation to go to the people in a bid to see off Micheal Martin and his party allies once and for all.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin – who has been fighting off a potential party mutiny for years now – can enjoy a break from staving of his leadership rivals.

With an election now set for early 2020, the Fianna Fáil grass roots now know when the party’s previously unthinkable and phenomenally unpopular deal with the Fine Gael devil will end.

Rather than infighting, FF constituency teams the length and breadth of the country can now begin preparing for the electoral fight to come.

Concerns over the leadership can be put aside in the expectation that in 2020 Michael Martin will either lead the party into Government or step aside.

It is strange to think that a minority Government has actually provided Ireland with stability in a time of political turmoil across Europe.

One imagines that Ms May and her embattled allies – however few of them she has – must be looking at the Varadkar administration with great envy.