Pat should protect his left flank as Bertie looks to a northern alliance

NOBODY can really claim to be surprised that Sinn Féin emerged as the largest nationalist political party in the Northern Ireland Assembly election last week. It has been on the cards since the 2001 Westminster and local election when the party out-polled the SDLP.

However, the extent of Sinn Féin's victory this time was surprising and has real implications for at least two of the other political parties here in the Republic.

Pat Rabbitte, in particular, should take some time to consider the implications of last week's results for his Labour Party. Sinn Féin has had a further boost to the morale of its activists and has had another successful outing for the skills of its organisers. This will have a spillover effect on this side of the border and it is Labour which has most to fear from Sinn Féin making further advances here in the Republic.