Negotiations reopen - Stakes are too high for talks to fail

AT last sanity prevails, or is about to get its chance. Tremendous political perception was not required to identify the point in the cycle that talks between unions and Government might reopen, but that does not diminish the relief the announcement brought.

Though Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s intervention was not animated by the breathless, minutes-to-midnight predictability of a Bertie Ahern cameo, it is a very, very welcome chink of light in a terribly dismal panorama.

It is also a great relief that chaos might be averted and that the first of many steps essential to economic recovery might be taken if the talks can end in agreement.