Political commentators have suggested for years that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should amalgamate, because their ideological differences are so slight.

However, the recent vote on the three-day reflection period on abortion suggests that TDs from both sides have more in common with each other than they have with either of the leaders of the former Civil War parties. A majority of both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs voted against moving the Sinn Féin Bill to the next stage.

It may be that the biggest differences are not between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael but within them. In both parties, there are signs that people feel frustrated with their leadership and powerless to influence them. It is just particularly obvious in the case of abortion.

It is a political canard that abortion is not a significant factor in how people vote, with the implication being that there is no political price to be paid for reneging on promises to the electorate.

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The truth of that received wisdom may depend on where your constituency is. Not only were many Fianna Fáil........

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