The government majority already showed some signs of independence.

They would be very big news at the moment given how small the government majority is.

"I am not asking you to form a government majority, or to choose political sides, but to render a service to the country," he said.

It was actually 2004 and the government majority was about 165.

The government majority had been reduced from 126 to 106 following the loss of a string of by-elections since December 1910.

The government majority in the Dáil was reduced to two.

It also resulted the first, albeit slim, government majority in the Senate since 1981.

This power has never been used because the modern Senate is designed in such a way as to have a permanent government majority.

Electoral systems that are only intended to form a stable government majority hinder the free forming of opinion from the bottom up.

The government majority is quite fragile, and could break down if the coalition starts fighting amongst itself.