Is a grand coalition between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael the means to solving the economic crisis?
People in Dublin are asked whether they believe a grand coalition between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is the way to lifting the country out of economic difficulties.
For one woman the notion of grand coalition is ridiculous and bizarre as the two parties have opposing political ideologies. Also, when the personal differences between leaders Charles Haughey and Garret FitzGerald are considered,
It just would never work.
Similarly another woman cannot imagine a scenario with Charles Haughey and Garret FitzGerald on the same side,
Who's going to be boss?
In contrast, a man thinks a grand coalition it would be a good idea to stabilise the country following a year of volatility. A woman agrees, as uniting the parties could not make the current situation any worse.
A woman is not in favour of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael joining forces,
They’re too alike and you’d wind up with a dictatorship.
This feeling is echoed by a man cannot who also thinks a one party country would be bad idea.
A woman is resigned to nothing changing whoever is in power,
We don’t gain by either of them being in or out.
Even more fatalistic is the man stating,
I don’t believe Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael have the ability to run the country proper.
He thinks politicians need to consider the needs of the people first, rather than listening to the industrialists and the economists.
A Fianna Fáil supporter is adamant there will be no need for a grand coalition as his party will get an overall majority in the next general election.
This episode of 'The Late Late Show’ was broadcast on 16 January 1987.
