The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry centre stage in Dáil chess match
AS the game of electoral chess continues between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, Kerry found itself at the heart of the drama last week.
In what has become a pre-recess tradition, the cabinet hit the road for its final meeting of the current Dáil term, with Derrynane House chosen as this year’s venue.
Wednesday’s cabinet meeting – held around the dining room table where Daniel O’Connell once entertained his guests – was dominated by Brexit, with Tánaiste Simon Coveney briefing colleagues on the latest developments in the negotiations with Downing Street.
While Brexit was the main item on the official agenda, there were other pressing matters to be ironed out during Mr Varadkar’s visit to the Kingdom.
The Taoiseach had arrived in Kerry on Tuesday evening, and he remained in the county until Friday, based at Killarney’s Great Southern Hotel, where he held numerous meetings over the three days.
Politically speaking, the most significant get-together came on Thursday evening when the Taoiseach sat down with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin – who had spent the day in north Kerry – to discuss the future of the confidence and supply deal underpinning the Government.
The pair spent over an hour in discussions before the parties issued identical statements in which they agreed to further talks in September.
On Friday morning, however, Mr Varadkar played another hand with the surprise announcement that he was seeking a deal that would keep him in power until mid-2020.
Speaking to The Kerryman on Friday, the Taoiseach spelled out his aim.
“I’d like to have an agreed date for an election, ideally in the Summer of 2020. That’s the proposal that I’m making,” he said.
The comments appeared to take Mr Martin by surprise, and it remains to be seen how he will respond.