But the changes this new structure and political competition brings to our politics will take some time to become fully apparent. In the meantime, here are five things that will I think be important in our politics in the short and medium-term future. Localism remains important; Irish politics wants its local chieftainsSinn Féin – as the official leaders of the Opposition – will get more scrutiny than heretofore. Localism remains important; Irish politics wants its local chieftains. The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party remains chronically undisciplined (Fine Gael culled 13 ministers and ignored a dozen hopeful TDs with barely a peep out of them).

Source: The Irish Times July 04, 2020 00:00 UTC