Political upheaval - New broom must sweep party clean

WHAT an appalling mess this country of ours is in — a dysfunctional and powerless minority Government surviving under what can only be described as political blackmail and an ineffective Taoiseach hanging on after losing the leadership of his party.

That unedifying spectacle was manifest in Leinster House yesterday when the second stage of the Finance Bill was passed with the help of Independent TDs, Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae. Defeat would have ended this dreadful Government and triggered an immediate general election.

Having negotiated shoddy deals based on narrow self-interest involving their own constituencies, the two politicians have extracted further concessions, albeit of wider significance, including a welcome decision allowing parents to off-set college fees against tax liabilities.