Storm to test strength of Government to keep going

The rejection of the Croke Park deal has pitched the coalition into its biggest crisis to date.

Just as the Government had begun showing signs that the economic ship had steadied — and the more queasy Labour TDs were staying on board — along came this thunderstorm that will test its strength to keep gong.

Today Eamon Gilmore will meet his Labour Party TDs and senators for the first time since the embarrassing fifth-place finish in the Meath East by-election.