Fianna Fáil may be reduced to bit part in nearly every council

FIANNA Fail could be banished to a bit part role in all bar two city and county councils if the Opposition decided to turn the screw.

Substantial gains for the Labour Party and Fine Gael, coupled with clever vote management, mean the vast majority of chambers can be dominated by coalitions which exclude the senior party in Government.

Negotiations to form these alliances kicked off as soon as the weekend’s results became apparent.