We knew it wouldn't take long. The knives would start to sharpen. The Fine Gael wake would begin.

Enda Kenny may be Taoiseach for quite some time yet, but the race to succeed him is under way.

The Fine Gael leader is one of the wiliest operators in Leinster House. He was smart enough to gift a job to almost everyone in his parliamentary party, to cushion himself from any potential heave.

But Mr Kenny is also well aware his time as leader of Fine Gael is drawing to a close. The best he can hope for is that he leaves on his own terms and with a Government still intact.

Leo Varadkar'sannouncement on councillors' welfare benefits may seem like a minor move, but in reality it was his first step on a long road to leadership. Let us not forget Fine Gael councillors have a vote in any leadership election.

Varadkar's popularity with the public is evident. Those who have little or no interest in politics are well aware of who he is. It is an appeal only one other Irish politician has. Like him or loathe him, people across the country know who Gerry Adams is. The same applies to Leo Varadkar.

However, he has yet to win over his own party members. Many are concerned he is unreliable, that he speaks too freely, that he is too fond of his own public persona.

His decision to review councillors’ PRSI benefits may be his first attempt at appeasing those who are nervous about him.

Unfortunately for Leo, his nearest rival has the card to trump his. Simon Coveney has a review of councillors' pay sitting on his desk.

Coveney could accept the report’s recommendations to increase their salary and supersede his competitor.

Or could he be seen as chasing Leo Varadkar’s tail? It may seem trivial, but make no mistake these are the smaller battles each man will be trying to win as the race to replace Enda begins.

New politics

It says a lot about the current state of Irish politics when we are yearning for the days of Government formation talks.

You might remember those eight weeks when a bunch of (mainly) lads discussed the shape of the next government.

Now there is a strange air of insignificance roaming the corridors of power, and it is one the politicians are not that used to.

No decisions are being made, lots of talking is being done (and even more consultation), and everyone is getting on far too well.

Enda and his Ministers won’t stop ringing or meeting Opposition TDs to brief them on everything and anything.

“Micheál, I am going to the UK today, is that ok? David won’t be there, but I should still go?

“Go and serve Enda. Permission granted.”

But fret not folks, we reckon it could start to crumble before us. The business committee met for the first time yesterday to discuss when we all go on our holidays.

The Ceann Comhairle says works in the chamber will take six weeks.The Government chief whip says it could be eleven weeks.

Surely Micheál Martin, the Dáil-reform guru, could not allow a three-month break?

And then there is that budget committee. Sure, the Opposition had grand notions of it, but expectation and reality rarely meet in Leinster House.

Instead they will be able to all have a chat and, like always, Michael Noonan and Paschal Donohoe will make all the decisions.

Maybe politicians will protest or debate, or maybe this recently discovered manuscript of new politics is, for the day that is in it, “Uselesssays”.