Credibility will be more important than tactics in upcoming election

The strategic reason Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil sat out the presidential election, is that tactically they did not want to arrive with either injuries or red cards for the real game that starts tomorrow.

That’s when the first substantive meeting to discuss the confidence and supply arrangement which formally expired on budget day, takes place.

On the presidency, they were delighted to feign deference towards Michael D Higgins. He was even more delighted to accept it.