FF/FG grand coalition may be only way to form government

Party leaders fear backlash if coalition goes ahead

Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin know that there are members of their parties who will be horrified at the notion of a grand coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

During the general election campaign, a Labour councillor claimed there was only a “cigarette paper” between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in terms of ideology.

But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin know that there are members of their parties who will be horrified at the notion of a grand coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

One astute political observer described it as being akin to the difference between Liverpool and ...