Independents' Day may not be a good prop for a stable crisis government

Big two eyeing a ‘mixum-gatherum’ of TDs, writes John Downing

Verona Murphy with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

John Downing

In the murky world of political deals, "an honest politician" is one who "once bought - stays bought".

The maxim will be uppermost in the minds of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael kingpins as they try to forge this State's 30th government with the most diverse political line-up.