Pat Leahy: The surging economy has changed the political context

That is no guarantee of success for the coalition, but it is a massive advantage

Joan Burton and Enda Kenny meet President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain following the Cabinet reshuffle last year

It has sort of crept up on us, but the present Dáil only has a few days of its life still to run.

A few days this week crammed with noisy guillotines, and a perfunctory day or two next; then it’s off for Christmas. TDs will return to Kildare Street in mid-to-late January, but judging from the conversations I have had with people who will be proximate to such decisions, they won’t be ...