Leo and Micheál in the same room, one of them had to go...

Our Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, by and large, appear to have a good working and personal relationship.

Nobody would ever go as far as to call them friends, you would never expect the young 40s urbane Dub to be on the town with the 60-something former schoolmaster from Cork.

But that said, they’ve been the glue that has held a three party coalition government together for over two and a half years now.

You have to give the affable Eamon Ryan his due here too, the third party leader in the coalition, he’s a genuinely pleasant man and it would be hard to pick a row with Mr Nice at the Cabinet table.

However, back to Leo and Micheál, it has to be said at times they can be extremely clunky and socially awkward with each other.

And nowhere was this more obvious than in the Dáil Bar last week for a going away bash for Irish Examiner Political Editor, Daniel McConnell, who is leaving the Dáil’s press gallery after 17 years’ hard labour.

The invites had gone out early.

All the thirsty hacks were there in situ by 8pm and Government Press Secretary, Nick Miller, had done his part too, doing a ringaround of special advisers and government staff, urging them to throw their head in to say goodbye too.

There was a great crowd, even without a gang of Ógra Fianna Fáil uninvitingly gatecrashing the party, packed into the back area of the Dáil bar.

Then shortly before half eight, the small crowd parted as the 6’ 2” frame of the Taoiseach moved towards Mr McConnell.

The Taoiseach was phalaxed by three or four of his aides and everyone thought he was there to say a few words at the little get-together.

Maybe he was, but then Micheál Martin entered the small area at the back of the bar.

And suddenly the two of them found themselves shuffling alongside each other in a bid to get prime position.

Then a strange thing happened, just as the speeches were getting underway, Leo and his entourage backed out of the little area, down the two steps, back into the main bar.

And then, as Micheál Martin stood forward to say a few words in honour of Daniel, after introductions by Gallery chairman, Gavan Reilly of Virgin Media, and a lovely tribute from Irish Examiner Deputy Political Editor, Elaine Loughlin, Leo had vanished altogether.

Of course, the Taoiseach is a very busy man and no doubt had another pressing engagement, but it didn’t stop people whispering that he’d left just because Micheál showed up too.

Separately, there was apparently a small theft from the bar that night as well.

It is an old tradition that when a journalist of decent service is leaving a publication, he gets a framed mock front page presented to him, the old version of ‘a roast.’

However, as it neared midnight and it was time to go, Daniel McConnell’s lovely souvenir had gone missing.

The place was searched high up and low down, but it had vanished.

Anyway, back to Micheál and Leo, we still have the guts of two years (max) left in this coalition yet, but I wouldn’t be holding your breath on seeing the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael chiefs sharing a pint of stout in Reillys or Doheny & Nesbitts on Merrion Row anytime soon.

Get well soon Joe Carey

There was genuine shock and concern in Leinster House last week when news came through that Fine Gael’s TD from Clare, Joe Carey had taken a little turn.

Apparently he was at home when he suddenly couldn’t breathe and an ambulance was called which rushed him to hospital where he was treated successfully, but they kept him in.

Joe is one of the friendliest and cheeriest TDs in the Dáil and only a few days before news of his chest problem he was in great form in the corner of the Dáil bar with one of great friends and Fine Gael colleague from Kerry, Brendan Griffin.

In the best way possible, you could hear him before you could see him.

The good news is that Joe is on the mend now, with friends in Leinster House saying he is doing well.

He was still in hospital heading into the weekend, but he was able to send a quick video via twitter on Thursday to let people know he is on the way back, he’ll just be a little delayed.

And to let us know that he was off the cigarettes 30 days and has absolutely no regrets about that.

Mary Lou and Michelle can’t stand the rain

Thursday was one of the most rotten days of the year, but the show must go on in politics and it was business as usual in Government Buildings.

That said, Sinn Féin boss, Mary Lou McDonald, caused the political journalists on that day to groan - or worse - when the SF press office announced a doorstep press briefing for 4:15 outside Government Buildings.

Sinn Féin’s Northern leader, Michelle O’Neill, and Mary Lou were going in to meet the Taoiseach to discuss the latest developments on the Windsor Framework and Northern Protocol.

It was literally raining ice as the hacks gathered in a huddle outside the gates of the Merrion Street seat of Government.

You could say it was a terrible day for hair-dos, the hair would be ruined if you stayed out in it too long.

No wonder then that Mary Lou and Michelle were spotted getting a car from the back entrance of their offices in Leinster House complex to the back gate of Leinster House, before, bless them, braving the elements and walking the 100 yards to Government Buildings to meet the press.

Quote of the Week

“We cannot let this predator continue to roam uncontrolled in rural areas and in the water, if it does, many species will become extinct” Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill doesn’t fear the rise of Sinn Féin politicians in Tipperary, but he does call for increased bounties on rampant mink.