The question for at least 25 'government' TDs and certainly 16 senators is not 'whether' but 'when' they will face the final, lethal electoral bloodbath.

The voters have sent an absolutely unambiguous message whether or not the so-called 'political class' (and much of the commentariat) can or wish to hear it. The Plain People of Ireland have done a managerial audit – and given this crowd a full year to come up with the goods.

To read the headlines, one might think 'business as usual'. But we are facing a genuine political crisis, which is the main block to the psychological turnaround. The people simply want all those who have sat around the cabinet table for the last 12 years out. They want a new government.

Enable us to change the government within days, as happened in 1994. That the only possible consequence of the government's losing its majority is a general election is simply not true, historically or constitutionally. The president has the prerogative to facilitate the Dáil in nominating an alternative taoiseach.

Leadership in a crisis is about effective pragmatic action, not about theological disputations or etiquette. This is about the life and death of a national community.

The people want our politicians to work the available mechanisms in the political system, to save the sinking ship. Now.

Maurice O'Connell,

Fenit, Tralee,

Co Kerry.