What's ahead for the left as the new Dáil takes shape?

With Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael likely to dominate large swathes of the next Dáil, Paul Hosford looks at the options available to the left and whether it can build an alternative

Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik celebrating after being elected. Labour is ‘the anchor’ of the centre-left vote, says former party leader Brendan Howlin. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

After counting got underway in last week’s general election, one reality became very clear.

With 86 of the 174 seats in the next Dáil, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael would at least make up one part of whatever coalition forms the government of the 34th Dáil.