Europe watches as Irish political foes seek common ground

Unlikely marriages have given rise to governments across Europe consisting of parties that would never have voted along the same lines, writes Europe Correspondent Ann Cahill

Earthquakes have been shaking the political establishment of national parliaments right across the European Union for the past few years — and now the tremors appear to have reached Ireland.

Old alliances of like-minded politicians have been falling apart, giving way to unlikely marriages between parties that would never have voted the same way in the past.