Let history guide us as we ponder the formation of the next coalition

Some of the commentators on the possible outcome of moves to form a government have referred to similar situations that were solved in various ways in 1987, 1989 and 1981-2. It might be instructive also to advert to varied scenarios in 1948, 1951 and 1954.

In each case the resulting government lasted close to an exact three years and accomplished much.

The first arose when Fianna Fáil (FF), able to claim credit for a partial but uneven recovery from the officially named Emergency of 1939-46, did not get enough seats to resume power.