 For the first time the party now faced vigorous parliamentary (if not entirely constitutional) opposition in the Dáil, as Fianna Fáil also made significant gains.Since the foundation of the state Dáil business had been relatively calm as the relatively small Labour party functioned as the official opposition in the absence of die-hard Republicans.The scene was now set for a volatile atmosphere in parliament as the two sides who had fought each other in the civil war now met face to face.