The elections’ lessons - Vote points to chaotic Government

Over the coming days the primary and urgent focus for the Coalition parties will be on why they were at the wrong end of such a very serious kicking from the electorate.

They will wonder what they can do to avoid an equally catastrophic — for them at least — judgement at the next general election.

For others, especially a charging Sinn Féin, the gathering platoons of multicoloured independents and a partially revived Fianna Fáil, the focus will be on consolidating the weekend’s advances and turning that newfound or recovered popularity into Dáil seats.