The former Tánaiste and Labour TD Joan Burton says the first big test for the next government is introducing a Budget in 2017 that will be fair for everyone.
Ms Burton’s comments come after her successor and new Labour party leader Brendan Howlin claimed that the Fine Gael led government will be over within the year.
The former Tánaiste told reporters: “The real cutting point is going to be the budget. Because at that point you have to cut to the chase because at the end of the day the country has to have a budget, so there’s a series of decisions that can’t be avoided.”