Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD insists an election can still be avoided.
Deputy Timmy Dooley’s party has tabled a motion of no confidence in the Tánaiste, which will be debated on Tuesday, ahead of a similar motion put down by Sinn Féin.
Clare FM’s Fiona McGarry reports:
A general election looks increasingly likely after Fianna Fáil followed in the steps of Sinn Féin by tabling a motion of no confidence in the Tánaiste.
Opposition parties have seized on Frances Fitzgerald’s handling of an email in May 2015, which outlined a garda strategy to discredit Maurice McCabe.
The matter will be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday, which will provide for a tense weekend for all involved.
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey admits the Government is effectively gone, and has accused Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail of taking part in “wreckless politics” at the worst time for the country, which is on the brink of Brexit.
He says the confidence and supply agreement is in “absolute jeopardy”, and that an election is likely.
But Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD disagrees, saying the ball is in Leo Varadkar’s Court.
Timmy Dooley has criticised the Tánaiste for publically standing by the then Garda Commissioner, at a time when he was trying to frame Maurice McCabe as a padophile.
Deputy Timmy Dooley says an election can be avoided, if Frances Fitzgerald is removed from office.
If a general election is called, we could see politicians on our doorsteps before Christmas, but it isn’t a foregone conclusion.
Former Government Minister, Clare Fianna Fáil’s Tony Kileen says it’s not the first time something like this has happened – he’s predicting that Frances Fitzgerald will step down in the coming days.
Former Labour TD Michael McNamara, who lost his oireachtas seat in the last election agrees that a pre-Christmas election is unlikely, but he believes it’s not far off.
