Close allies and bitter rivals

FINE GAEL and the Labour Party have not convinced people about their economic policies, but there remains little doubt among voters that they can work together to form a stable government.

There is a consistent view that the two opposition parties, who have had differing stances on various policy issues, would form a stable coalition.

Those eligible to vote and who are under the age of 25 were the strongest believers in the proposition, ahead of pensioners who would have lived through a number of such coalitions.