senior hurling

In Gaelic games, including hurling, the "senior" grade is the highest level of competition. In 2007, the Green Party entered government for the first time in coalition with Fianna Fáil, and Séamus Brennan of Fianna Fáil quipped to the Green Party ministers, "you're playing senior hurling now".[1][2]

senior hurling (uncountable)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see senior,‎ hurling.
2. (Ireland, politics, figurative) serious, difficult, important business; hardball[3]
   • 2015 March 10, Michael Mullins, "Order of Business" Seanad Éireann debates (Oireachtas)

     I urge Sinn Féin and the DUP to come together to ensure they can address the problems that have arisen in regard to the Social Welfare Bill. [...] I remind our Sinn Féin colleagues that they are playing senior hurling now and the issue must be resolved if they are to aspire to being in government in both the North and the South of Ireland.

   • 2016 February 29, '"Sinn Féin are spinning that they had a good election. They had an appalling election" - Eoghan Harris reviews #GE16' (Newstalk):

     Sinn Féin are 'spinning' an election disaster as a victory, while party president Gerry Adams needs to stop claiming he is being victimised by the media and realise "this is senior hurling", according to writer and former politician Eoghan Harris.

   • 2017 January 31, "Questions — Official Engagements" Dáil Éireann Debates (Oireachtas)
     • Brendan Howlin: I join with others in appealing to the Taoiseach, as Leader of this House, to forge a common view on the outrageous actions of the Trump Administration in its first ten days of office. [...] I would ask the Taoiseach to acknowledge that it is not business as usual. [...]
     • Enda Kenny: In respect of Deputy Howlin's remark, I agree it is not business as usual any more. It is not politics as usual anymore. Senior hurling has gone global. In that sense, we have got to stand up for what we believe in and politicians and leaders can differ.
   • 2017 April 28, Conor Lally, “Tough game of senior hurling at Policing Authority session”, in The Irish Times:

     Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan has weathered the storms of the last couple of months, showing a streak too tough to be pushed out by the politicians in Leinster House.
     But when the ball was thrown in to commence a public session of the Policing Authority on Thursday, it was senior hurling all the way.

   • 2018 February 1, Darragh O'Brien, "Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce" Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence debate (Oireachtas):

     The question is how to make Brexit work for all of us. [...] Phase one was the easiest, if any of it could be called easy. Phase two is what will really be difficult. We are into senior hurling now, to use an Irish phrase. The British will understand that pretty soon.