Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a mathematical fact, as has been pointed out by the ESRI in regard to last year's budget. The Government's statement of common purpose announces:

On the 25th February a democratic revolution took place in Ireland. Old beliefs, traditions and expectations were blown away. The stroke of a pen, in thousands of polling stations, created this political whirlwind. The public demanded change and looked to parties that would deliver the change they sought. [...]

That is why Fine Gael and Labour, the two largest political parties in the State having achieved historic levels of support in the general election, now seek to use their mandate to form a Government for National Recovery.

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