With our history of Dáil majorities, FG should really keep FF on side

THE Irish people did not so much speak at the ballot box last week as scream their disapproval of the current government, and this was especially apparent around the capital.

In Dublin and the three adjoining constituencies — Wicklow, Kildare North, and Meath East — Fianna Fáil failed to reach the quota in even one of the 60 seats contested. In fact, the party won only one of those seats — Finance Minister Brian Lenihan took the last seat in Dublin West, without reaching the quota.

Some people suggest that this is the end of Fianna Fáil, but the result was not as bad as what happened to the Progressive Conservatives in Canada. In 1984, Brian Mulroney led the Progressive Conservatives to the largest majority in Canadian history. Mulroney realised his race was run and stepped down in 1993. Kim Campbell replaced him and became Canada’s first woman prime minister.