Public anger catching the Coalition

After a period of grace‚ frustration with the government is becoming evident‚ writes Political Editor Paul O’Brien

LAST November, shortly before the details of the EU/IMF bailout were announced, the then enterprise minister Batt O’Keeffe was confronted by an angry protester outside Leinster House who grabbed him by his tie, attempted to tighten it around his neck and roared “shame on you” in his face.

Even though public fury with the Fianna Fáil-Green government was reaching its height, O’Keeffe, a genial, popular politician, would not have been considered a lightning rod for protest.