A reputation, once earned and irrespective of whether it reflects well or poorly, is an extremely hard thing to shake off. For better or worse, the current administration has gained an unwanted status as a do-nothing outfit, but in the coming months it will have the opportunity to shake off that tag. It will be interesting to see if the so-called new left movement, which was behind Catherine Connolly’s successful presidential election campaign, can sustain a vocal, focused, and harmonious opposition. It will also be fascinating to witness how current unrest within the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parliamentary parties progresses. Since their presidential election campaign shambles, there have been consistent rumblings within Fianna Fáil about Micheál Martin’s leadership.

Source: Irish Examiner January 14, 2026 01:19 UTC