He will have to immediately stamp his authority on the party, prepare for coming European elections, hold a budget in the autumn, and ready his party for what will be a pivotal election in March next year.
The undoubted prestige of having an Irishman in a leading global role would be offset by potential short term political pain, not welcome at any time but especially in a potential election year.
That the chances of securing a successful prosecution for a Troubles-related crime are negligible, because of the passage of time and the quality of evidence now available, is a difficult fact to face.
The role of the presidency has changed dramatically in the last three decades, and what had previously been considered fairly dull elections have been enlivened in recent years with a range of different candidates and visions for the office.
With Sinn Féin riding high on the back of voters’ dissatisfaction with the economy, the temptation to cash in Dublin’s corporation tax bounty will be great.
Statistics suggest that rents have increased by an average of 63 per cent since 2015. Demand for housing outstrips supply, and house prices continue to rise year on year.
A recent brawl at the National Party conference highlights how totally marginalised it remains in Dublin politics.
As Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil prepare for an unprecedented game of musical chairs, the republicans are riding high in the polls.
As long as their activists call them “colonialists” and candidates glorify the IRA, the idea is as convincing as a Hannukah greeting from Jeremy Corbyn.
Their negotiating stance is often very aggressive and unyielding. They will seek to cause maximum damage at a critical time.
Of course the result is a bad one. But we encourage the party to co-govern in Northern Ireland, so can scarcely object if now does so too in the Irish Republic.
An extremist party is gaining support – from those wishing to protest housing shortages and hospital overcrowding.
The final paragraph of Cox’s advice notes that in some circumstances the UK could suspend or exit the backstop under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
Also: DUP urge Government to adopt more aggressive approach to EU negotiations; Cardiff Conservative councillor reinstated; and more.
Was it simply a case of voters not liking these specific changes? Or does it point to a deeper alienation between the voters and Ireland’s political class?