Pressure is on to conclude coalition negotiations

IN better times, there would be space for Fine Gael and Labour to enjoy their victories.

Fine Gael has won its record number of seats and emerged as by far the largest party in the Dáil. Labour, too, has won its record number of seats and has the most TDs in Dublin.

This is heady stuff for both parties, and to make it even better, their old foe Fianna Fáil has been well and truly vanquished.