Parties not polls apart on election

MICHEAL Martin’s letter to the Taoiseach looks to have ensured there will not be a general election this year.

The public would certainly not have thanked Fine Gael or Fianna Fail for forcing them to go to the polls in the run up to Christmas.

While the Government’s position became even more precarious following Denis Naughten’s resignation an election now would only lead to a period of intense instability.

While the latest opinion poll gives a major boost to Fianna Fail the most likely outcome of an election now would be a hung Dail.

This would lead to weeks of negotiations as both the parties struggle to form a government in what could be a rerun of the events after the last election.

The Taoiseach’s announcement that he too wants to avoid an election will be welcomed but the public might not agree with him that the current confidence and supply agreement should go on for another two years.

But Leo Varadkar is spot on when he says it is vital that this country secures the best possible Brexit deal.

Mr Martin pointed to the “constantly changing situation in Westminster” where the Tory party is tearing itself asunder and where the British Labour party is also deeply divided over Brexit.

A similar situation here must be avoided at all costs.