An official Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael union is now a real possibility.
The two old enemies have been working in partnership together since 2016 anyway, when the Soldiers of Destiny decided to give their firm backing to a Blueshirts-led government through a confidence and supply agreement.
They moved things on by going into coalition together in the summer of 2020.
The union has been happy, factions in both parties would say. But especially Fianna Fáil.
These Fianna Fáilers still hold out hope of a return to the glory days of campaigning to deliver an overall majority. Glory days, they'll pass you by in the wink of a young girl's eye, as The Boss would sing.
READ MORE: Handover of Taoiseach role back to Leo Varadkar delayed due to attendance at crunch meeting
Who would be surprised if the pair put their century-old differences behind them and shacked up together for good?
They're both centre-right, with ever-dwindling difference between them.
One Independent minister said the only rows they ever have now is between who gets which ministerial posts.
There isn’t a sliver of garlic between them when it comes to policy.
With Fianna Fáil turning away from its social leanings in recent years, they’re fishing out of the same voting pool now too.
Behind it all is common enemy politics. FF and FG have clubbed up to defeat their big threat, Sinn Fein. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as proverb goes.
The Shinners are flying it - the new kids on the block have a massive lead in the polls.
Even after dropping three points earlier this month, they still stand on at least 34%. That's just three short of Fianna Fáil, 17% and Fine Gael, 21%, combined.
SF was the most popular party after the last election, they've 36 TDs in the Dail, and Mary Lou McDonald is frequently voted the most popular leader. Eoin O'Broin is the country's preferred housing minister on the biggest issue in Ireland today.
Now Leo Varadkar is talking up the prospect of a FF/FG pre-election pact last week.
In an interview ahead of him taking over as Taoiseach next month, Leo said the two parties could transfer votes to each other.
"The two centre parties transferring to each other can bring about gains," he said. "If this Government continues, doesn't break up for some reason, and ends well, then that's an option we'd be putting before the Irish people... that we would seek to continue with the current partners we have in Government."
He made sure to put it up to Sinn Fein by saying governing with them would be: "A line we would not cross."
This pact would disproportionately benefit Fine Gael at the ballot box as the larger of the two parties.
If FF choose to go it alone, they'd be squeezed out in an FG v SF showdown.
This would offer Irish voters the traditional Right and Left political alternatives many other western democracies already do.
Micheal Martin denied there would be any deal done ahead of any election. But will he be calling the shots as FF leader by then?
Finance Minister knew pint price hikes were coming
Pint drinkers and publicans alike raised a glass to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in the last budget.
At least he didn’t touch one of the "old reliables" and add any more excise to the price of plain.
Sadly, this was a false dawn as Paschal revealed on Friday morning he held back because he knew punters would get hit in the pocket anyway with pint price hikes due to increased cost of production.
This followed Heineken Ireland’s announcement last week that the cost of a keg is going to increase by 9% - and of course it's the customer who pays.
No doubt Heineken won’t be the only one bumping up their prices. Their rivals will only be too delighted to use the same excuse to add extra to the cost.
Right now, it looks like a 25c to 35c rise in the price of a pint.
The next round's on you, Paschal.
Travellers out of sight and out of mind for Madigan
Junior minister Josepha Madigan started in politics as the councillor who said building traveller accommodation in her affluent south Dublin enclave would be "a waste of valuable resources."
Instead - she argued back in 2015 - a council site earmarked for traveller accommodation could be sold to private developers for millions.
The profits could provide even more traveller accommodation far away from Mount Merrion.
Now it appears travellers remain somewhat out of sight and out of mind for Madigan.
It was announced earlier this month that funding had been secured for six sites for the Mens’ Sheds movement in Madigan’s backyard.
The Fine Gael TD welcomed the announcement - but only listed five of the six. So a shout-out to the omitted Southside Traveller's Men's Shed group.
However, kudos due to Madigan this week for her fierce condemnation of a school that left a Down Syndrome girl spend most classes in a foyer.
The primary school was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay €12,000 compensation to the pupil.
WRC adjudicator Thomas O'Driscoll said the actions of the school: "Reinforced the idea to other children it might be normal to exclude those with special needs."
The special education minister pulled no punches when she described it as "appalling, egregious, discriminatory, there is no excuse for it. We need to make sure something like this never happens again."
Quote of the week
“I take no notice of those sorts of things.” 2007’s Celebrities Go Wild winner, maverick independent TD Michael Healy Rae is not following Matt Hancock's adventures on I'm A Celebrity.
READ NEXT:
- Ana Kriegel killer Boy B joins accomplice in adult prison after turning 18
- Man, 30s, arrested after woman found dead in Meath apartment
- Ireland weather: Met Eireann five-day forecast predicts sunny spells but polar twist once sun goes down
- Notorious gang boss found dead in Swords hostel with €50k of heroin after suspected overdose
- Donald Trump warned of fine or prison spell after fencing issue on Doonbeg hotel and course
To get the latest news right now, visit our homepage .
