The year in politics: Is voters' FF bloodlust over?

{ "#" : "Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be happier than most to have reached the sanctuary of a few days' break this Christmas." , "b" : "Fianna Fail:"}

It was predicted hereabouts last year that 2004 would be one of Ahern's toughest years ever, and so it has come to pass.

Tougher than 1981 and 1982, when he helped fend off the Haughey heaves? More complicated. Tougher than 1994, when the Taoiseach's job ...