Anger, anxiety and anticipation descends for Dáil endgame

AN air of anxiety, anger and anticipation falls over the Dáil chamber today as it finally returns from its 12-week-long summer slumber to embark on what is likely to be the beginning of the endgame for this phase of slump politics.

Brian Cowen has allowed a healthy majority of 13 to wither away to nothing, ensuring it will be a white-knuckle ride for the coalition down to the December budget – if it makes it that far.

Smart money has shifted to a March general election, but Mr Cowen has developed a tendency for living dangerously and the edges of his contracting coalition are detaching themselves from his convoy as it sinks into the economic sands.