Alan Dukes admits Fine Gael in a 'very difficult' position after bruising poll

Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes has admitted that the election campaign is “looking very difficult” for his former party after another bruising poll for the outgoing government.

Mr Dukes said there was a strong case for a merger “between the civil war parties” after suggestions by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that, with current poll numbers, this could be the only option.