A bizarre game of political chicken

€5,357,142.86 – the amount of money we had to borrow to keep the hospitals, schools and Garda stations open during the two-hour 15-minute political charade that was the “consensus” talks.

The process was never anything more than a bizarre game of political chicken and has done its participants – and the country – few favours.

“Strong and vigorous exchanges” across a round table in the Taoiseach’s office resulted in the four main party leaders getting absolutely nowhere.