Election fallout - Coalition made pay for arrogance

It took the devastating results of the recent elections to make Fianna Fáil and its Government partner, the Progressive Democrats, realise what they were being repeatedly told - they were not listening to the people.

But the collective voice of an indignant and exasperated electorate, bent on retribution, cannot now be ignored.

Let there be no doubt about it, last Friday was payback time for the people and the voters relished the opportunity to do so through the ballot box.