Brandt’s grand coalition should be a guiding light for our new government

THE turbulence in Egypt and Libya, which is now spreading throughout the middle East, has some playing out to do. It is bound to have international repercussions, and it’s impossible to see the shape of all of them.

But among the consequences is likely to be a lot of pressure on oil prices — perhaps even an oil shortage. That could have devastating consequences on Irish jobs and families.

Sometime in the next month or so, a decision will have to be made on whether, and to what extent, the wreckage of our banking system will need a further injection of capital. The so-called “stress tests” to which Enda Kenny kept referring throughout the election campaign could be coming home to roost.